When we think of herping, most of us picture sun-warmed trails, damp forests, or muggy swamps teeming with movement, frogs calling, salamanders darting under rocks, and the occasional snake basking in a clearing. But once the temperatures drop and the first frost settles in, it feels like the show is over. Amphibians, being cold-blooded, seem like they’d stand no chance in a frozen world. And yet, surprisingly, they do. The world of winter herping may be quiet, but beneath the surface (literally), something remarkable is happening.

The Cold-Blooded Challenge
Amphibians, unlike mammals or birds, can’t regulate their own body temperatures. Their internal heat depends entirely on their environment. So when that environment drops below freezing, it poses a serious risk. Ice crystals can damage cells, disrupt body function, and quickly lead to death if the animal isn’t prepared. And yet, many frogs, toads, and salamanders survive, and even thrive, in cold climates.

The Freeze-Tolerant Masters
Let’s start with one of the most impressive winter survivors: the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). Found across North America, even into the Arctic Circle, this frog does something that seems impossible: it freezes solid. We’re talking completely immobile, heart stopped, no breathing, ice in the body cavity. But it doesn’t die.

Wood frogs have adapted to allow ice to form outside of their cells, while keeping the inside from freezing. They flood their organs with glucose, which acts like antifreeze and protects cellular structures. As temperatures fall, they slip into a deep suspended state under leaf litter or in shallow soil. Come spring, they thaw out and hop away like nothing happened.

If you’re field herping in the far north as the snow melts, you might spot these frogs reanimating just as the ice retreats, an eerie and impressive sight.

Salamanders and the Subnivean Zone
While frogs often go the freezing route, some salamanders take a different approach. Terrestrial salamanders like the Eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) spend the winter underground, in what’s called the subnivean zone. This is the layer between the soil and the snowpack where temperatures remain stable and just above freezing. It might not be cozy, but it’s survivable.

Others, like the spotted salamander, burrow deeper, below the frost line. These amphibians enter a state of torpor, similar to hibernation, slowing their metabolism down to conserve energy until temperatures rise again.

If you’re lucky enough to be out herping during an early thaw or warm spell, you might catch glimpses of these salamanders emerging early to migrate to vernal pools for breeding, a major seasonal highlight.

Aquatic Adaptations
For fully aquatic species like green frogs and bullfrogs, survival comes down to water temperature. These frogs head to the bottoms of ponds or lakes where water doesn’t freeze, even in the dead of winter. They settle into the mud or rest on the bottom and absorb oxygen through their skin. As long as the water isn’t completely frozen solid, they’re good to go.

This strategy works for newts as well. Amphibians like the Eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) can remain semi-active during mild winter stretches underwater. This is one reason you might still spot movement if you’re carefully scanning an ice-free stream on a winter herping excursion.

Climate Change and Winter Survival
Here’s where things get tricky. As winters become more erratic, warmer spells followed by sudden deep freezes, amphibians that rely on stable winter shelters are at risk. A premature thaw might bring a wood frog out too early, only to be slammed with a late-season snowstorm. Inconsistent snow cover can also destroy the protective buffer of the subnivean zone, exposing hibernating salamanders to lethal temperatures.

Field herping in the shoulder seasons (late fall and early spring) is a great time to witness some of these survival strategies in action, but it also serves as a reminder of how delicate the balance really is.

Final Thoughts: There’s More Than Meets the Ice
The next time you’re out in the woods in winter and everything feels lifeless and still, remember: just below the surface, cold-blooded creatures are holding the line, beating the freeze with ancient biological tricks. Herping doesn’t have to stop when the weather turns, sometimes the most fascinating behavior is happening when you least expect it.