RES overwintering?

[Conner]

I found one of the RES I had put out in my pond a couple months ago today. He was hanging out in the skimmer box .

Anyways, can RES overwinter fine in north central Kentucky (Louisville)? I know their range extends up into Illinois and Indiana, but I just want to make sure.

The pond will be available to them all winter, and its right next to a deck with a lot of bare, loose earth underneath it, so if they wanted to hibernate they could. There is also about 4-6 inches of mulch piled around 2/3 of the pond, so they could burrow down into that as well.

Can I leave them outside, or should I bring them in and set up a tank for them?

 

[Etunes]

Honestly, sounds like it is gettin nippy for the fella. He probably found it as a easy premade burrow to sleep in. I dont know how cold it gets up there in the winter but i would probably bring them in but that is up too you.

 

[Conner]

Well I let it go again. The other one was still out there, and while its getting down into the mid 40's to low 50's at night.

The pond was still running, so there was still water flowing through the skimmer box. I think s/he just couldn't get back out of it.

Like I said, there's plenty of places in the yard to hibernate, and if I see the both of them again soon, I may decide to bring them in rather then leave them out.