Juvenile Scaphiopus hammondi, Bufo debilis and Bufo cognatus (1-6 weeks post-metamorphosis) were allowed to burrow in soil containers in an environment chamber adjusted to simulate soil temperature conditions in the field. Approximately 50% of the S. hammondi survived 6 months during which time body H2O changed from 86% to 75% and body lipid from 3.2% to 2.0%. Bufo cognatus did not burrow and died within 1 month. Bufo debilis made shallow burrows after the soil was mechanically broken and survived 3 months. O2 consumption of burrowed juvenile S. hammondi was 25% of nonburrowed. O2 consumption of S. hammondi and the bufonid juveniles was higher than that of adults proportionate to the body size differences.