Hello! I am new, but I have a question that I have been trying to get an answer to for about a week now. No one seems to know anything about frogs... I live in Maryland, and my family and I have an artificial pond in our backyard. About 8 adult frogs have taken residence in the pond (they just showed up last summer) and I was wondering if they will be able to last the winter. The plot thickens by the fact that our condo association is forcing us to move the frogs. So I essentially have two questions: 1. Will the frogs be able to survive the winter in a rubber lined artificial pond? 2. Is it legal for the condo association to force us to move wild animals from THEIR chosen habitat? Even if it is artificial. It's getting colder, so if I could get some suggestions ASAP, that would be fantastic. Thanks so much for any help!

It depends on the size of the pond and the type of frog. I forgot the exact depth of the freezing point, but its somewhere between 2 and 3 feet. Also, if the pond is frozen over for to long toxic gases might be trapped and kill them =[. &What do you mean theyre forcing you to get rid of them?

I think that the pond is only about 2 feet deep and we have a pump to keep it constantly running if necessary. Well, the condo association is going to fine us if we don't move them. Which honestly, I couldn't care about, but I don't want to be stubborn and keep them, and then have them be hurt or die anyway. Thanks for you reply!

My pond at the deepest is 2ft. and my frog overwintered just fine. Like already said, just need a hole to keep the gases escaping. The condo assoc. is complaining NOW?? That, I don't understand. When they're making all their summer croaking, I can understand that. lol I worry about my fish ( since I put them there), my frogs found the pond themselves so they're on their own..I have 2 green frogs now.

I live in MD too. Since your pond is 2 feet deep with a hole in the ice over winter, the frogs should be able to overwinter. It would be helpful to know what species of frog that they are. Different frogs have different hibernation needs. Some hibernate under water and some on land. What is the pond's volume? I didn't think most condos had enough room for a pond. Did they approve the pond itself? If they did, they shouldn't have a say in what wild animals might show up. I'm not sure if the frogs would be protected. That also depends on the species. Some frog species (green frogs, bullfrogs) in MD are considered "fish" by law and can be "taken" (killed) with a fishing license or sometimes without one. Other frogs are considered wildlife and are protected in MD.

These pages on my site cover frogs and winter:
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/winter.htm
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/frog3.htm

Thanks for everyones replies! I will try to take a picture of the frogs so that I can classify them. I will get back to you all soon!! Thanks again!

Did you end up taking them out? How would it be possible to remove them? Even if you did find a way, wouldn't more come to replace them?