By T.C. Lochridge

For Chaidh

       Grasshoppers are herbivorous insects that are usually green and jump with their back legs. These bugs are not very picky and will eat almost any vegetable. They usually come out from mid-summer to late summer and are not bad for pets if you aren't allowed to buy pets from the store. This guide will show you how to take care of these creatures. If you catch a grasshopper that is injured or has a problem, you can either let it go or put it out of its misery by "putting it down" and burying it ("and" is an important conjunction there!). 

       First of all, you do not want to catch the grasshopper yet. You need to get its home ready first. I learned this lesson after a few years of grasshopper catching. For a home, you can use a plastic box and put netting over the top. If either of those objects is unavailable, you will have to figure it out for yourself or do what I did. I took a small jar and put Saran wrap over the top. Then I poked fairly big holes (but small enough that the grasshopper can't get out of them) in it and rubber banded it to the top. But before you rubber band it there, you need to get the inside done.