Frogs spend up to three years from birth out of the water before they become
breeding adults. I have found them in vacant mouse holes & even mole runs on
my allotment.

CJ

http://www.ickenham.fsworld.co.uk/index.htm
"Jim W" wrote in message
. ..
Tumbleweed wrote:

Was digging in my borders today close to my pond, dug out and turned
over a
large lump of earth with a fork, and out jumped a frog! This was hard
earth,
and the frog must have burrowed its way down there, it wasnt loose soil.
Do
they hibernate in the soil? I've never quite believed the thing about
them
hibrnating in the bottom of the pond, they have to breathe dont they?

They tend to hibernate in damp places with some protection from frost.
Amongst mud/earth/stones close to ponds is a fairly common position and
it wouldn't surprise me to find them preparing for hibernation now that
the weather is turning cooler.
//
JW