Your warm winter is bringing out the bugs
So, here's the thing about Utah — we just had a winter where, for a lot of folks, it barely felt like winter. Yeah, no, the ski resorts up Big Cottonwood Canyon still got their snow, especially Alta, because Alta always gets the good stuff. But down in the valley? It was… mild. And now, you know what's coming out of the woodwork because of it? Grasshoppers.
### More Than Just Annoying
This isn't just about a few extra bugs hopping around your backyard in Sugar House. We're talking about farmers up in places like South Ogden, where they're already having to monitor populations because a warm winter means those little guys hatch earlier and, potentially, in much bigger numbers. One farmer out there is already setting up protections. The state's keeping an eye on it, too, because an outbreak can just decimate crops. It’s a real headache for agriculture, and frankly, it just adds to the list of worries with our changing climate and water situation.
* **Early Hatching:** The mild temperatures mean grasshopper eggs are developing faster. * **Crop Damage Risk:** Larger populations can devastate local farms, impacting food supply and livelihoods. * **State Monitoring:** Utah’s agriculture department is actively tracking the situation.
It's just another reminder that even when the inversions aren't choking us, and the Great Salt Lake isn't drying up quite so fast, something else is always brewing. That's the Crossroads, friends — greatest snow on earth and the weirdest liquor laws.
The folks on the Morning Wire dig into stories like this every day. Catch 'em live at mornings.live.