Current:Home > Markets"Sludge" from Mormon cricket invasion causes multiple crashes in Nevada -CapitalTrack
"Sludge" from Mormon cricket invasion causes multiple crashes in Nevada
Algosensey View
Date:2025-04-10 01:48:10
Mormon crickets are once again creating chaos in Nevada, where officials said they caused multiple crashes on an interstate highway over the weekend.
The pesky creatures resemble fat grasshoppers and are known in parts of the western United States to appear, at times, in massive clusters that may completely cover the side of a building or an entire section of a road.
Although the Nevada Department of Agriculture says Mormon cricket populations have decreased over the last few years in most places in Nevada, they've remained about as large as they've ever been in two counties, Eureka and Elko. In Eureka, there were so many Mormon crickets spread across the highway that they contributed to several accidents on Saturday.
"ECSO, Eureka County Fire, Eureka County EMS, Carlin Fire, NSP, have had a busy morning responding to multiple crashes on the Interstate due to rain and Mormon Cricket sludge," the Eureka County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post, which urged people to drive with caution and included several images of a car and a semitruck both overturned after running off the road.
When they're crushed, Mormon crickets leave behind a foul-smelling "sludge" that can pose serious driving hazards as they make roads "EXTREMELY slick and unpredictable for stopping distance," the sheriff's office said. Rainy weather created an even more dangerous situation.
ECSO, Eureka County Fire, Eureka County EMS, Carlin Fire, NSP, have had a busy morning responding to multiple crashes on...
Posted by Eureka County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, May 25, 2024
Mormon cricket invasions tend to happen in the spring, when eggs laid the previous summer begin to hatch, according to a factsheet posted by Nevada's agriculture department. How huge the swarm is in a given year can be hard to predict, officials have said, because it depends on a variety of environmental factors including temperatures and late-season snowfall.
Whether they are crushed or not, large populations of Mormon crickets are a concern because they can destroy crops in addition to posing threats for drivers. In April, the state said it had submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for large-scale ground treatment in certain parts of Nevada to eliminate them.
Nevada has been plagued by intermittent Mormon cricket infestations since the insects invaded 10 million acres of land across the state in 2006, CBS affiliate KLAS reported.
- In:
- Car Accident
- Agriculture
- Nevada
Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She covers breaking news, often focusing on crime and extreme weather. Emily Mae has previously written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.
Twitter InstagramveryGood! (957)
Related
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- What Ariana Madix's Vanderpump Rules Co-Stars Really Think of Her New Man Daniel Wai
- Harry Jowsey Reacts to Ex Francesca Farago's Engagement to Jesse Sullivan
- Wegovy works. But here's what happens if you can't afford to keep taking the drug
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Introducing Golden Bachelor: All the Details on the Franchise's Rosy New Installment
- Developer Pulls Plug on Wisconsin Wind Farm Over Policy Uncertainty
- What kind of perfectionist are you? Take this 7-question quiz to find out
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Government Shutdown Raises Fears of Scientific Data Loss, Climate Research Delays
Ranking
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- A Trump-appointed Texas judge could force a major abortion pill off the market
- Philadelphia woman killed by debris while driving on I-95 day after highway collapse
- How will Trump's lawyers handle his federal indictment? Legal experts predict these strategies will be key
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Helen Mirren Brings the Drama With Vibrant Blue Hair at Cannes Film Festival 2023
- Nipah: Using sticks to find a fatal virus with pandemic potential
- State Clean Air Agencies Lose $112 Million in EPA Budget-Cutting
Recommendation
North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
Greenland’s Ice Melt Is in ‘Overdrive,’ With No Sign of Slowing
Florida police officer relieved of duty after dispute with deputy over speeding
Most Americans say overturning Roe was politically motivated, NPR/Ipsos poll finds
The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
Utah's governor has signed a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth
Who's most likely to save us from the next pandemic? The answer may surprise you
Kim Kardashian Alludes to Tense Family Feud in Tearful Kardashians Teaser