How to Keep a Bullfrog in Winter

On warm summer evenings in the country, the familiar croak of the American bullfrog is nothing short of a staple to summer's ambiance. Generally found on the shores of large, permanent bodies of water, the bullfrog employs several survival mechanisms to help it weather the cold autumns and winters of its habitat, which can range well into northern Canada. If you happen to reside on the same land as one of these amphibians, there are some things you can do to help the bullfrog make it through the winter successfully.

Things You'll Need

  • Underwater pump
  • Underwater heater
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Instructions

    • 1

      Leave the frog outside. The bullfrog has evolved to be able to survive the winter on its own, and you must trust that it is better off outside than inside. Most people cannot provide adequate indoor winter conditions for the frog to hibernate and survive.

    • 2

      Make sure that the bottom of the pond is muddy, and not rocky or made of some kind of lining. If this is the case, it would be better to move the frog to a different pond. Bullfrogs will bury themselves partially in the mud to survive the winter.

    • 3

      Place a pond pump under the water before it begins to freeze, if the water is stagnant during the winter. The frog will not come to the surface during this time, and requires aerated water to survive. Even a few bubbles under the water will suffice.

    • 4

      Place a small pond heater under the water if you suspect your pond may freeze all the way through. The goal is not to keep the pond from freezing at all, but only to provide an inch or two of water underneath the ice. Follow the instructions that came with the heater to adjust the temperature appropriately.

    • 5

      Allow the winter months to pass without checking on the frogs. If you try, you risk disturbing their hibernation, thereby killing them.