THE WOOD FROG

Lithobates sylvaticus

 

INSTITUTE CLASSIFICATION: World Champion Napper
OFFICIAL STATUS: REAL
ARCHIVE: Forest & Backyard Creatures
CASE STATUS: Investigation Complete

CASE SUMMARY

Reports reaching Institute Headquarters describe a small North American frog capable of surviving one of the most ridiculous winter strategies ever investigated.

It doesn’t migrate.

It doesn’t hide somewhere warm.

It freezes.

Reports claim its heart stops beating, it stops breathing and it remains frozen through winter.

Then, when temperatures rise, it thaws out and hops away.

The Institute considered these claims sufficiently questionable to open Case File #0018.

CLAIMS UNDER INVESTIGATION

Institute researchers were asked to examine four extraordinary claims:

CLAIM #1
The Wood Frog can freeze during winter.

CLAIM #2
Its heart can stop beating.

CLAIM #3
It can stop breathing while frozen.

CLAIM #4
When temperatures rise, the frog can thaw and become active again.

Initial Institute Assessment:
This sounds made up.

Investigation authorised.

ORIGIN & HABITAT

Wood Frogs are found in forests, wetlands and woodlands across North America.

During warmer months they behave much like other frogs.

Then winter arrives.

And things become considerably more questionable.

RECOGNISED BY

Researchers should look for:

A small brown body

Excellent camouflage

A dark marking around the eyes

An extremely calm expression

The appearance of a creature that would rather be asleep

Extraordinary commitment to napping.

KNOWN FOR

Holding the unofficial Institute record for the most extreme winter nap.

When winter temperatures fall, a Wood Frog can freeze.

Its heart stops beating.

It stops breathing.

It can remain frozen for an extended period.

Then temperatures rise.

The frog thaws.

Its heart begins beating again.

And it continues being a frog.

The Wood Frog describes this as:

“A good night’s sleep.”

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS

The extraordinary part of this Case File is that the central claim is real.

Wood Frogs can survive freezing conditions during winter.

While frozen:

Their hearts can temporarily stop beating.

They stop breathing.

They remain inactive.

When temperatures rise, they thaw and become active again.

The Institute therefore confirms that something which sounds completely impossible is, annoyingly for our sceptical researchers, completely possible.

INSTITUTE FIELD NOTES

FIELD REP #14
Subject: Wood Frog

6:11 am
Motionless.
Appears frozen solid.

9:11 am
Still frozen.

10:00 am
Still frozen.

Researcher concerned.

Frog appears comfortable.

11:00 am
Still frozen solid.

Darren says it’s dead.

Wood Frog appears unconcerned.

FUN FACTS

Wood Frogs can survive being frozen during winter.

Their hearts temporarily stop beating while frozen.

They stop breathing.

They become active again when temperatures rise.

They have spent millions of years perfecting the art of napping.

They consider alarm clocks unnecessary.

INSTITUTE SURVIVAL TIPS

If you encounter a Wood Frog:

DO:

Observe from a respectful distance.

Leave wild animals where you find them.

Allow the frog to continue whatever extremely questionable activity it is currently performing.

DO NOT:

Challenge it to a napping competition.

Attempt to wake it.

Attempt to improve its sleeping technique.

It is already a professional.

Several months may be required.

IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY

Institute researchers once attempted to determine exactly how long a Wood Frog could sleep.

The Wood Frog slept through the study.

Several researchers became jealous.

EYEWITNESS REPORT

“I thought it was dead frozen. Turns out it was just sleeping.”

— Darren, age 9

The Institute has reviewed Darren’s report.

For once, Darren appears to be basically correct.

OFFICIAL FINDING

REAL

After examining the available evidence, Institute researchers confirm that Wood Frogs really can survive being frozen during winter.

Their hearts stop.

They stop breathing.

Then they thaw and hop away when temperatures rise.

Researchers agree:

This sounds completely made up.

It isn’t.

Case File #0018 is officially classified:

REAL

JUNIOR RESEARCHER CHALLENGE

Before reading this Case File, would you have believed a frog could survive being frozen?

OPEN YOUR OWN INVESTIGATION

What else would you like to discover about the Wood Frog?

You might investigate:

How does its body survive freezing?

How cold can a Wood Frog become?

How long can it remain frozen?

What does it eat?

Where in North America does it live?

Are there other animals that can survive freezing?

Every answered question should lead to another one.

Observe. Question. Imagine. Investigate.

CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION

LISTEN TO CASE FILE #0018
Hear the Wood Frog investigation in Episode One of Extremely Questionable Creatures Podcast

DOWNLOAD THE CREATURE INVESTIGATION WORKSHEET
Gather the evidence and reach your own conclusion.

OPEN YOUR OWN INVESTIGATION
Choose a question, gather evidence and submit your findings to the Institute.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE CREATURES

All creatures are presumed interesting until proven otherwise.