Bad weather puts tadpoles off turning into frogs

Some tadpoles have not grown into frogs this year due to the poor weather

Tadpoles have decided not to turn into frogs because of this year's bad weather.

The young amphibians usually begin their transition into frogs in the UK during April and May, but they have been seen still swimming in Cumbria.

Jodie Mills, from the West Cumbria Rivers Trust, said tadpoles had been spotted in a river in the Walkmill Community Woodland, near Moresby Parks.

She said the animals decided early in the year whether they would stay as tadpoles or "metamorphosise into tiny baby frogs", depending on whether conditions were right.

"If a pond is really overcrowded and there is not really enough food for them, they may stay as tadpoles and if it is too cold for them, they might do as well," she said.

"We are hoping they will survive the winter and they will have a head start over the other tadpoles that will have spawned over the spring because they will be bigger."

She added there were a few clusters of tadpoles every year which decided not to grow into their adult bodies.

Surviving the winter

The tadpoles were discovered in an area where the trust has been restoring a river and pond to improve habitats.

Ms Mills said it was unusual for the tadpoles to be found in the river, as they often preferred still water.

However, she said the cold winter water should not be a problem for them.

"They can actually tolerate being frozen a little bit, in a lab, but in a pond if the surface freezes, they can usually stay well below it in the liquid water.

"And moving water is less likely to freeze anyway."