03/19/2026
While we cozy up with thick blankets and puffy jackets, many animals must endure the harsh winter outside. Animals like deer and moose rely on thick coats, while others find deep burrows to protect their bodies from biting winds. There is one type of animal, however, that does things very differently. These creatures don't fight the cold; they embrace it. They freeze.
Yes, you read that correctly. Certain species of frogs in the monument endure freezing temperatures by, well, freezing. As days grow shorter, wood and gray tree frogs begin creating large stores of glucose, a type of sugar derived from food. This high concentration of sugar is forced into cells, preventing vital organs from freezing. Meanwhile, the remaining portions of the frog - its skin, empty cavities between muscles and even its eyes - succumb to the cold. A layer of ice crystals forms, and the frog goes quiet. For months, a wood frog accomplishes the impossible: no heartbeat, no breathing and no movement. Right now, hundreds of frogs are statuary versions of their previous selves, waiting patiently for spring, so they may begin again.
For more information about this stunning act of nature, visit https://www.nps.gov/gaar/learn/nature/wood-frog-page-2.htm
