Swarms of grasshoppers have descended on portions of the province's Interior, and they are making life difficult for ranchers. As well as eating agricultural crops such as wheat and barley, they also consume pasture grass, which puts them in direct competition with cattle for food. "They are actually eating and consuming the grass as much as cattle are," said Pritchard, a rancher himself. Pritchard said the situation has forced ranchers to consider selling their stock early to secure a return on their investment. Females bury their eggs and those eggs can remain dormant for years until conditions are right for them to hatch.

Source: CBC News July 28, 2021 14:26 UTC