When Spring Arrives
They are mostly dead, but their cells continue to function, but they can no longer communicate with each other. Thanks to them being in this frozen state of hibernation, they can survive through the insanely low temperatures for up to seven months. When spring finally arrives, they start to thaw and eventually hop away as though nothing had ever happened. These creatures are of great interest to biologists and us ordinary people too – they take the concept of hibernation to a whole new level that is of interest to the science community to understand how nature works in different weather conditions.
This time of year is also their breeding season, so as soon as they thaw, they look for an ephemeral pool where they can reproduce. They prefer pools rather than permanent water bodies like ponds and lakes because it brings them protection from predators. Sometimes they have to travel long distances to find the perfect pool, and when they do, the male starts emitting duck-like quacking sounds to find a mate and keep the species alive. Even if they are not on the endangered or threatened species list because of forest loss, studies have shown that wood frogs and other amphibians are beginning to drop out of their occupied habitats.