The Frog that Freezes and Survives

The Alaskan wood frog freezes solid each winter. It’s not just napping—it’s frozen stiff. Its heart stops. Its lungs go silent. Even its blood turns slushy with ice crystals.

And yet, this tiny frog pulls off one of nature’s wildest survival tricks. As temperatures drop, its liver floods the body with glucose. That sugar acts like antifreeze, protecting cells from the sharp edges of ice. The frog can survive with up to 70% of its body water frozen.

Even crazier? During this months-long freeze, there’s no heartbeat. No brain waves. It’s as if the frog hits pause on life. But when spring warmth returns, it thaws out and wakes up—ready to find a mate and start the cycle again.

The wood frog isn’t alone in this frozen feat. The spring peeper and moor frog have similar talents. But none survive winters as harsh as Alaska’s.

Ask a Kid This: If you could freeze each winter, what would be the first thing you’d do when you unthaw in the spring?