We are about to experience our first winter for our pond (South Eastern Pa.). The whole pond idea exploded and grew and grew all summer. I added 4 tad poles and now am the proud mother of 4 green frogs. :D What should I expect them to do or where will they be all winter. They have not been seen in the last couple old days. Do they winter in the water? or along the sides in fall brush? I need to do another leaf clean and am afraid I will disturb them or grab some leaves and toss the baby out with the bath water so to speak...... any ideas?

THANKS!!!!

Aren't baby frogs the cutest things? To answer part of your question they hibernate in the water and more specifically in the mud on the bottom. I would leave the bottom alone just incase. Also, do you have a net over your pond? Nets would stop most of the leaves from coming in which means less work and less chance of distrupting the froglets.

If they are green frogs, Rana clamitans, they will overwinter in the water on the bottom. They will try to hide under leaves and such but adding dirt is a bad idea (dirties the water and lowers the oxygen). Mine overwinter fine on top of the liner.

How big is your pond and how deep? Where do you live? If your pond is deep enough where you live for them to overwinter there, they should be fine. If not, you'll have to either bring them inside and keep them active, bring them inside and hibernate them, or find another pond for them. See these pages on my site for more information.

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/frog3.htm
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/winter.htm

This time of the year, I throw out tons of plant material so I know the worry of accidently tossing out an animal. With experience, you'll be able to quick sift/check debris before tossing it out. Even when it's somewhat cold, frogs should respond to being picked up by moving.

Nets are good for keeping leaves out but they will also keep any frogs out who happen to find themselves on the wrong side of the net. I check the nets twice a day for any animals stuck on top of them or, worse, in the holes. The smallest green frogs and pickerel frogs go right through the holes but the medium ones can get stuck. Big ones just bounce on the net like a trampoline until I catch them and put them under the net. It's now too cold so my frogs have all "gone to bed."

I don't trim my pickeral, just pull out the stalks and break them free. Since I've been doing it for awhile now I figure my 2 green frogs have gotten use to the little earthquakes. Figure they're in the pots. I don't have much dirt/mud on the bottom. My lilies are the only ones I trim and move to the deep end and they're still green. I miss my 2 frogs in the morning, just hope they're around come spring. Need a deeper pond, 2ft. just isn't cutting it. :(

wouldnt the water on top of the liner freeze solid?

I'm not sure to what you are referring Animal Love?

AnimalLove, Robyn means on top of the liner, but the bottom of the pond, under the water. So on the floor of the pond, essentially. It will not freeze solid if it is deep enough.

Since I started putting a net over my pond (about 3 1/2 yrs now) I haven't seen or heard a single frog at my pond. :(
Haven't noticed any tadpoles either.
The net covers the entire pond & waterfall.
Maybe the net does too good a job!
I know there are frogs in the area because I hear them croaking in the adjacent neighbors' yards on both sides, as well as behind me.
and they don't even have ponds

On the up side ... I haven't sighted or found evidence of any snakes. :)

We live just north of Atlanta and it doesnt get real cold here.

In the past 2 weeks, I have had to fish 3 dead frogs out of my pond. I am guessing they froze to death. Very sad

Did you find them in ice? If not, then they probably didn't die from actually freezing but from either lack of oxygen, too high levels of noxious gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide), and/or fungus. Those are what usually kill frogs during the winter. Did/do you have aeration going and/or a hole in the pond for air exchange?