Most frogs hibernate in the mud below the ice, though some survive the winter in their tadpole stage. Many turtles also burrow into the mud and become inactive during the colder months. Snapping turtles, on the other hand, settle beneath plant debris and logs or even stay in muskrat or beaver burrows. Both snapping and painted turtles become active sometimes, and can be seen crawling around under the ice. Mammals also overwinter in the frozen streams.
Beavers make large mud and wood lodges that they stay in when the pond behind the dam freezes.
Beavers keep their food underwater for the winter and have thick layers of fat and a dense coat of fur to protect them from the cold water. The actual living area inside the lodge is above the water line so that they stay warm and dry when not swimming. In fact, steam can sometimes be seen rising from beaver lodges on cold days. Otters and muskrats also stay for the cold weather. Though muskrats would rather stay under the ice like the beaver, otters love the snow.