Green frogs are likely to be the most abundant species you will find in a lake or pond. Their call can be heard from late spring well into the …

You won’t hear frog and toad calls—that only happens at various times during the spring and summer, depending on the species.

Snakes are still around, but they are out less often as the days are cooler now.
It’s the same situation with turtles. Milder fall days are the best time to see turtles, especially painted turtles; they bask on logs or rocks near lake shores.

You can see frogs and toads through the end of September and into October on milder days. I’ve seen a few in the last week or so at various locations. Temperatures hit highs in the 60s to 70s, and these amphibians were doing their normal activities, mainly basking and foraging for food.
Being cold-blooded, reptiles and amphibians frequently bask in the daytime sun to regulate their body temperature.

When the temperatures start heading down toward freezing in October, frogs and toads start their hibernation activity. They will either bury themselves a few inches into soil or leaf litter, or in the water of a lake or pond, depending on the species.

These amphibians prepare themselves beforehand for winter hibernation by generating extra glucose from their livers. The extra glucose is a natural antifreeze and prevents the fluid around the cells from freezing.

In the spring, mild days will warm up the soil around the frog, and over the course of a few hours, this seemingly frozen frog-cube will thaw out, show signs of life, and eventually hop away to its springtime haunts.

Except when they breed in vernal ponds during early spring, wood frogs are typically found in forest habitats away from water. They hibernate by …