'It's like a horror movie': Hordes of grasshoppers invade Lethbridge, Alta. neighbourhood
The recent hot and dry conditions blanketing southern Alberta have paved the way for the biggest surge in grasshoppers in recent memory.
For one neighbourhood in west Lethbridge, the insects have been popping up in droves over the past two weeks, and things are only getting worse.
"If we don't laugh about it, I feel like we're all just going to cry about it," said Paige Thornborough, a Copperwood resident who has lived in the area for roughly five years.
"It's like a horror movie. It's horrible. When you go on the sidewalk on this side of the street even, there are swarms of them."
Normally, Paige and her husband Dylan would be spending much of their summer in their backyard playing with their two young daughters. But not this year.
"It's hurting the kids the most not being able to play in our yard. Just with COVID and not being able to see other kids much for so long, it's pretty frustrating for them now that they can't even play in their our back yard," said Dylan Thornborough.
For the Thornboroughs, the army of grasshoppers that's taken over their lawn is unexpected and beyond annoying.
"We used to spend all day every day out in the back barbecuing, eating outside, the kids had a pool, a Slip 'n Slide and we're not able to utilize any of the space anymore. We just can't stand being out here."
The problem is much more widespread than just one family. An entire block is seeing waves of grasshoppers hop from house to house.
The community is built on the edge of a dryland farm that has been devastated by this year's scorching conditions.
Seeing as there will be little to no crop yield on that farm this year, it doesn't make much financial sense to spray insecticides to keep the grasshoppers at bay which means, the insects are running rampant.
"It started off as only like three on the trampoline and then they multiplied so quickly," said Hudson Turchyn, a 10 year-old who's lived on the block for more than five years.
"We just planted two plots of garden in our back yard and like, all the leaves are gone. They just ate it all. It's crazy."
Some of the kids in the neighbourhood were having a fun time trying to catch the grasshoppers before things were kicked into high gear, but not anymore.
"As soon as you walk outside it's just like grasshopper town," said 12 year old Olivia Burrows.
"I have been a little bit spooked out. It's pretty gross."
Handfuls of residents have taken it upon themselves to spray their property with pesticides and other chemicals, but those solutions have only lasted for a short period of time before the grasshoppers come bouncing back in droves.
"It's starting to feel a little bit hopeless in terms of solutions or I guess, ways that we can manage the problem. It's starting to feel very much overwhelming," said Paige Thornborough.
This isn't the first time the region's grasshopper population has surged and according to some farmers with experience dealing with the pesky bugs, this year's dry conditions could mean that southern Albertans will be dealing with swarms of grasshoppers for the next couple years.
The City of Lethbridge says they're aware of the situation, and their trying to work on a solution, but local pest control companies say unfortunately, there's not much that can be done to clean up the neighbourhood.
At this point, the only hope is for the weather to take a turn and cool down dramatically or rain for a few straight days.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.