With a small amount of planning and effort, you can turn your backyard into a haven for many different forms of wildlife, including amphibians. Digging a frog pond, installing a few toad abodes, or creating suitable winter quarters for hibernating amphibians can be very satisfying projects. 

Before you grab a shovel and start to dig, it’s probably a good idea to investigate what species of frogs are found in your area so that you can make the best possible home for them. Take a hike along a neighborhood creek or pond and meet some of your amphibian neighbors. Make a visit to your local pet shop, hardware or building supply store and see what styles and sizes of pre-formed ponds are available. You may also want to check to see if anyone else in your neighborhood has installed a pond in their backyard recently.  Most folks are happy to share stories and tips about their landscaping projects, and seeing a number of different designs might give you a few more ideas for your own creation. There are also a number of websites devoted to this subject, so we’ve listed a few on the next page that you might wish to check out. More... 

 

By comparison to creating a frog pond, providing shelters for toads is a much easier task. You can construct your own or purchase them ready-made from a number of commercial sources.

A damp, shady location on your property is choice toad habitat.  Natural depressions with soggy soil are ideal, such as the areas adjacent to downspouts from your roof. A simple shelter can be made by erecting flat rocks to form a toad-sized space underneath. Clay plant pots – especially old ones that have cracked – make fine shelters for warty-skinned amphibians. Break the pots in half.  Each pot half, placed cracked side down, functions as a suitable toad abode.  A layer of leaf litter or sand on the ground inside helps keep the soil moist and inviting, and a saucer or pan of water placed nearby is what your toad will sit in to take a drink. 

For instructions and additional ideas on providing these simple shelters for your amphibian neighbors, you might want to check out the following websites:

In temperate climates, some frogs may choose to spend the winter hibernating at the bottom of your pond. Other species will search for shelter in soft ground nearby. You can encourage those to stay the winter by creating what’s called a hibernaculum. The design is simple, but you’ll be building your biceps once again with a bit of digging. Dig a hole that’s three feet wide and three feet deep, fill it with sand, and cover it with compost as added protection against freezing. If frogs and toads find these cozy winter quarters, they’ll do the rest.