If you’ve ever spent time near a pond, creek, or other body of fresh water, you’ve likely heard frogs croaking at night. But have you ever wondered where those boisterous amphibians disappear to when the sun comes up? Turns out, there are several places frogs like to hunker down during the day.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: During the day, frogs take refuge under logs, rocks, vegetation, and in burrows near the water to stay cool and moist.

Hiding Out Near Water

Under Logs and Rocks

Frogs love to hide under logs, rocks, boards, and other debris that is found close to the edges of ponds, streams, marshes, and other wetlands. These humid spaces provide frogs with shelter and protection from predators and the drying effects of the sun.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, up to 90% of a frog’s life may be spent on land rather than in water. However, they rarely venture more than a hop, skip, and jump away from the safety of water.

The space under logs and rocks create the perfect dark, damp environment for frogs and toads. Studies show that the skin of amphibians needs to be moist in order for their breathing and body functions to operate correctly.

When not actively hunting for food at dawn or dusk, frogs remain hidden under debris near the edges of waterways. These spaces protect them from predation as well as heat and moisture loss.

In Vegetation and Leaf Litter

In addition to hiding under rocks and logs, frogs and toads will camouflage themselves in grasses, leaf litter, and other dense vegetation surrounding ponds, streams, and marshes. Their coloring allows them to easily blend in to these environments.

For example, the green tree frog can appear green, gray, or brown to match its surroundings. According to the Animal Diversity Web, some hylid frogs can even change color over periods of hours or days to adapt to their environment!

Hiding among lush waterfront vegetation gives frogs and toads shade from the hot sun and protects them from land-based predators like snakes, birds, foxes, and cats. Thick grasses and reedy areas also retain beneficial moisture.

Furthermore, these environments provide excellent habitat for the insects and spiders that make up the diet of most frogs and toads. When not actively hunting, frogs blend into these areas both to hide from predators and surprise prey.

Hiding Place Benefits for Frogs
Under Logs & Rocks – Shelter from sun & wind
– Protection from predators
– Moist environment
In Vegetation & Leaf Litter – Camouflage & shade
– Moisture retention
– Access to insect prey
– Protection from predators

Seeking Shelter in Burrows and Holes

Digging Burrows

Many species of frogs will dig burrows in soft, moist soil or mud to take shelter during the hottest and driest parts of the day. According to the AmphibiaWeb resource from the University of California, burrowing offers protection from predators and helps frogs conserve moisture (https://amphibiaweb.org).

The depth and size of burrows depends on the frog’s size – smaller species may burrow only a few inches down in the soil, while larger frogs can tunnel over a foot deep.

Some examples of burrowing frog species include:

  • Spadefoot toads which get their name from the hard, spade-like projections on their hind feet used for digging.
  • Horned frogs found in South America which use their blunt snouts to bore into the ground.
  • North America’s Great Plains narrow-mouthed toads which spend much of their lives underground and are expert diggers.

Interestingly, the burrowing frogs of Australia called Cyclorana construct a cozy underground chamber for their breeding pools, laying eggs in these underground ponds safe from the harsh outback sun!

Using Abandoned Holes

Rather than put in all the hard work to excavate their own burrows, many clever frogs will simply utilize ready-made holes left behind by rodents, snakes, turtles or other animals. These abandoned spaces like squirrel burrows, groundhog tunnels, snake holes and hollow logs offer convenient shelter on hot days when frogs would otherwise risk dangerously drying out if caught in the open.

Species Shelter Source
Green frogs old crayfish burrows
Northern leopard frogs vacated snake holes
Gopher frogs deserted gopher tunnels

Some resourceful frogs may also modify an existing hole to better suit their needs by digging out wet mud or small pools inside to maintain hydration, much like we might redecorate a new home!

So whether actively excavating with their strong hind legs or taking advantage of a free pre-made space, a good burrow means cool safety for frogs trying to avoid the intense midday heat and predators.

Just look for those iconic eyes peering at you from a dark recess under some foliage or lawn debris – chances are it’s a frog hanging out in their underground haven!

Reasons Frogs Stay Hidden During the Day

Avoiding Predators

Frogs spend most daylight hours hidden under leaf litter, rocks, logs, or in burrows to avoid predators that are most active during the day. Potential frog predators include birds like herons and hawks, mammals such as raccoons, snakes, larger frog species, fish, and lizards.

Camouflaging themselves and staying still helps frogs go undetected. Their markings and coloration act as natural camouflage to blend in with surroundings. Some species can even change color to match habitat. Burrowing frogs will tunnel underground, using soil coverage for hiding.

Staying Moist

As amphibians, frogs need to keep their skin moist to breathe properly and prevent dehydration. Hot daytime temperatures speed up water loss through their permeable skin.

Hiding in damp, shaded areas under vegetation, rocks or underground helps frogs conserve moisture. Some excavate mud burrow “retreat sites” near water sources. Tree frogs climb into high branches to access cooler, humid air layers.

Regulating Body Temperature

Since frogs are cold-blooded ectotherms, they lack internal temperature regulation. To control their body heat, frogs behaviorally adjust by sheltering in microclimates with favorable temperatures.

Midday heat can be dangerous for frogs if they overheat. Hiding is a way to keep cool and escape extreme heat. Being near water also helps regulate temperature for moisture and evaporative cooling.

Conclusion

As you can see, frogs don’t actually disappear during the daytime – they simply seek out cool, moist shelters to avoid overheating, drying out, and being eaten. Understanding where frogs hunker down can help you spot them more easily.

So next time you’re out near the water, keep an eye out for logs, rocks, burrows, and vegetation where frogs may be resting just out of sight.

Similar Posts