Bureau of Land Management proposes cricket plan

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Officials with the Bureau of Land

Management are asking for public input on a plan to prevent a

predicted infestation of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets in

Wyoming.

     Using surveys from last years’ grasshopper outbreak, the agency

predicts that as much as 1.2 million acres of BLM-administered land

in Wyoming is threatened by a grasshopper infestation. BLM

officials say that could result in substantial loss of vegetation.

     Under the proposal, the BLM would use pesticides to suppress

grasshopper and Mormon cricket populations. The pesticides would be

sprayed from the air over BLM land, with some limited ground-based

application as well.

     The agency is taking comments on the plan until March 26.