Henry Mowbray, age 12, of Trevose, Pennsylvania, for his question:

Where are hoptoads in the winter?

All toads travel in leaps and bounds, and so do the frogs. And many people mistake frogs for toads and toads for frogs. This confusion gives us an excuse to call any or all of them hoptoads. In any case, this in no way affects the way they spend the winter. For in places that get really cold in winter, all frogs and toads hibernate    or perish. The are cold blooded amphibians who need warmth from their surroundings to remain active. Also, they feed mostly on insects and their food supply disappears during the winter months.

Through the fall, the amphibians sat extra meals and store surplus food as fat. As time for the winter sleep approaches, they seek shelter. It is very important to hide away in small crannies that are protected from the cold and other enemies. Some hide under fallen leaves or in pockets under tree roots. Others live in burrows a foot or more down in the soil, and some burrow down in the mud. The heart beat and lungs slow almost to a stop as the various hoptoads sink into the deep coma of hibernation. They remain in this state, hidden out of sight, until aroused by the first warm breath of spring.