Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Spring frog mortality.

This year I am observing quite a lot of dead frogs (leopard frogs) near where the ice is starting to open. Several were piled up in a small one foot sqare area where a very small creek runs in. Is this normal? I did not observe this last winter, there were just a few over the whole pond. The only difference this year really was the snow cover was much deeper for a longer time.
I think they may have been coming up for air?

Not liking what I am seeing. Hopefully not the fish too.

It looks to be normal. I removed 67 from a small area where the small creek enters. Looks like they were looking for air and froze.

http://www.gardenersworld.com/blogs/wildlife/dead-frogs/2928.html

Finally have ice off, and cleaned up another bucket full of dead frogs. Vast majority were male leopard frogs, some female. Still plenty of tadpoles and a few live frogs, but sad to see how cruel nature can be sometimes.

Cruel indeed ls. They will be back.
Cmm

Man my ponds are still 95% iced over. I hope I don't have the same problem whenever this ice finally decides to melt.