Mike Maurer, age 11, of St. Paul, Minn., for his question:

WHERE DO FROGS AND TOADS SPEND THE WINTER?

Frogs and toads are coldblooded amphibians, and as such their bodies cannot function when the weather becomes chilly. Their world is full of hungry enemies, and those that survive the summer must prepare to cope with the winter. The logical answer is hibernation. Come fall, these cheerful little animals eat extra food and add a layer of fat to their bodies. They will absorb this store of nourishment during the long foodless weeks ahead..

As the days grow cooler they retire to secret hideaways. Most of the frogs burrow down in the mud. The toads use their hind legs to dig holes, burrow down backward and maybe plug the door with dirt. Sometimes the den is just big enough for one; sometimes they borrow a gopher burrow and share it with a few hibernating neighbors. Some hide under fallen leaves, under rocks or among the roots of a tree.