# Winterkill

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterkill
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{{Short description|Type of winter that kills plants and animals}}
{{Other uses|Winter Kills (disambiguation){{!}}Winter Kills}}
[[File:Fish Kill 745F2A9C-65B8-D693-7ABA3282F6A1ECE4.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Fish kill, from [oxygen depletion](/source/oxygen_depletion) caused by a winterkill]]
'''Winterkill ''' happens in frigid and icy [winter](/source/winter)s, its effect can kill both [plant](/source/plant)s and [animal](/source/animal)s.<ref>[https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/waterville/winterkill.html Winterkill assessments, What is winterkill?, 2025, Minnesota DNR]</ref> In [lake](/source/lake)s, the winterkill kills [fish](/source/fish) when the [dissolved oxygen](/source/dissolved_oxygen) is too low due to the cold. The drop in dissolved oxygen occurs when the lake is too shallow, has insufficient inlet water, and/or the top ice is too thick.<ref>[https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/hutchinson/winterkill.html#:~:text=Clear%20Lake%20(by%20Watkins)%20A%20low%20winter,be%20normal%20at%20Clear%20Lake%20this%20year. Winterkill and Other Fish Kills, 2025, Minnesota DNR]</ref> [Water aeration](/source/Water_aeration) is one way to help prevent winterkill in lakes and ponds.<ref name=LackeyHolmes1972>{{cite journal |doi=10.1577/1548-8640(1972)34[175:EOTMOA]2.0.CO;2 |year=1972 |volume=34|pages=175 |title=Evaluation of Two Methods of Aeration to Prevent Winterkill |last1=Lackey|first1=Robert T. |last2=Holmes|first2=Donald W. |journal=The Progressive Fish-Culturist |issue=3}}</ref>

Winterkill of [turfgrasses](/source/Turfgrass) and [crop](/source/crop)s can happen in winter due to very low temperatures. Winterkill can also bring on the drying out of turfgrasses/crops, with killing due to [desiccation](/source/desiccation). With a layer of snow, turfgrasses/crops can be protected from desiccation. The other winterkill of turfgrasses/crops is crown hydration (cycles of freezing and thawing).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://extension.psu.edu/winterkill-of-turfgrasses|title=Winterkill of Turfgrasses|website=extension.psu.edu}}</ref> 

Very cold winters can cause winterkill in [deer](/source/deer), [elk](/source/elk), and [pronghorn](/source/pronghorn). Due to the smaller body size of fawns, they are more susceptible to winterkill. Very cold, a thick ice layer or deep snow winters can reduce herd populations. A late spring can also cause winterkill.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://realtree.com/Wyoming-Range-Winter-Kill-More-Devastating-Than-Predicted|title=Wyoming Range Winter Kill More Devastating Than Predicted|website=Realtree Camo}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spca.bc.ca/news/winterkill-in-deer/|title=The winter woes of winterkill in deer}}</ref>

==See also==
* [Cold wave](/source/Cold_wave)
* [Lake-effect snow](/source/Lake-effect_snow)
* [Whiteout (weather)](/source/Whiteout_(weather))
* [Blowing snow advisory](/source/Blowing_snow_advisory)
* [Blowing snow](/source/Blowing_snow)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Natural disasters}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Snow or ice weather phenomena
Category:Weather hazards
Category:Hazards of outdoor recreation

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Winterkill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterkill) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterkill?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.