When the cold arrives, the country's amphibians start looking for a place to hibernate, which is not always easy. Amphibians need a place with a few plus degrees.
In the past, we had a landscape that was much more mosaic-like, this small-scale landscape. Then there were opportunities for very many small animals that need help with a little extra warmth in the winter, says Claes Andrén, who is an author and former researcher.
Previously, frogs found rubbish heaps, compost, cellars, and stone walls that could do, but that type of place has largely disappeared.
Heat is formed
But garden owners can contribute to the stack, he and the project Rikare trädgård suggest, by setting up a frog hotel – a hibernation site.
The advanced variant involves digging a few decimeters deep hole with sand at the bottom, covered with branches. The branches are covered with landscape fabric against the ground on three sides, which in turn are covered with soil. The fourth side is the opening, which can consist of stones. When the branches slowly break down, enough heat is formed for the frogs and salamanders to survive the cold months.
Moves a lot
But amphibians are not particularly picky.
If you want to make it very easy for yourself, you can just create a pile where you mix some compost material and rice, says Andrén.
He points out that many underestimate how much small animals move around in the landscape and believe that they quickly find the newly established frog hotel.
This is one of the most fun things for small children, to see frogs playing and following their development, he says.
You can consider not setting up the hotel near busy roads – which can become death traps for frogs – but otherwise, it's just a matter of trying it out.
