Current:Home > Back'World-changing' impact: Carlsbad Caverns National Park scolds visitor who left Cheetos-InfoLens
'World-changing' impact: Carlsbad Caverns National Park scolds visitor who left Cheetos
View Date:2024-12-23 15:05:10
National park officials in New Mexico are calling out whoever is responsible for leaving a full bag of Cheetos that spread mold and caused an associated stench.
The snack bag took 20 minutes to recover from the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southern New Mexico, the park's official Facebook page wrote on Sept. 6. Rangers meticulously removed the bag and all the molds that spread to nearby surfaces and caused a smell.
"At the scale of human perspective, a spilled snack bag may seem trivial, but to the life of the cave it can be world changing," the National Park Service said. "The processed corn, softened by the humidity of the cave, formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi."
The park service continued that "cave crickets, mites, spiders and flies soon organize into a temporary food web, dispersing the nutrients to the surrounding cave and formations."
"Molds spread higher up the nearby surfaces, fruit, die and stink. And the cycle continues," the agency said.
While some organisms can thrive in the cave, the microbial life and molds created by the bag do not, park officials said.
Dropped bag was 'completely avoidable'
Park officials said that while incidental impacts are often impossible to prevent, a dropped snack bag is "completely avoidable."
"To the owner of the snack bag, the impact is likely incidental. But to the ecosystem of the cave it had a huge impact," the post read. "Great or small we all leave an impact wherever we go. How we choose to interact with others and the world we share together has its effects moment by moment."
The post urged park visitors to "leave the world a better place than we found it."
Over 100 million pounds of waste accumulated at U.S. national parks annual, according to nature research group Leave No Trace.
Yosemite scolds park visitors burying toilet paper
It's not the first time park officials have used social media to discourage improper park etiquette and it certainly won't be the last. In July, Yosemite’s National Park Service scolded those who bury toilet paper in an Instagram post.
“Picture this: Yosemite's majestic wilderness, stunning vistas, and… surprise! Used toilet paper waving hello near Rancheria Falls— a full roll too!” NPS wrote in the caption.
While a common technique, its often exposed by weather and erosion and animals looking for nesting material.
"Because really, nobody wants to stumble upon a surprise package left behind by an anonymous outdoor enthusiast," the agency said. "Let's keep things clean and classy out there, by packing out whatever you carry in."
Contributing: Amaris Encinas
veryGood! (2228)
Related
- NBA players express concern for ex-player Kyle Singler after social media post
- Kate Winslet Reveals Her Son's Reaction After Finally Seeing Titanic
- Halloween superfans see the culture catching up to them. (A 12-foot skeleton helped)
- Kate Winslet Reveals Her Son's Reaction After Finally Seeing Titanic
- Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier
- The Latest: Harris and Trump offer competing visions for the economy
- The Masked Singer's First Season 12 Celebrity Reveal Is a Total Touchdown
- Tommy Kramer, former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl QB, announces dementia diagnosis
- Louisiana man kills himself and his 1-year-old daughter after a pursuit
- Gil Ramirez remains on 'Golden Bachelorette' as Joan hits senior prom. Who left?
Ranking
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- Chiefs' Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes explain Travis Kelce’s slow start
- Watch a toddler's pets get up close and snuggly during nap time
- How many points did Caitlin Clark score today? Rookie season ends with WNBA playoffs loss
- FC Cincinnati player Marco Angulo dies at 22 after injuries from October crash
- These are the top 5 states with the worst-behaved drivers: Ohio? Texas? You're good.
- Get your Narcan! Old newspaper boxes are being used to distribute overdose reversal drug
- Parents will have to set aside some earnings for child influencers under new California laws
Recommendation
-
Trump has promised to ‘save TikTok’. What happens next is less clear
-
Roy Clay Sr., a Silicon Valley pioneer who knocked down racial barriers, dies at 95
-
Tommy Kramer, former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl QB, announces dementia diagnosis
-
Georgia court rejects counting presidential votes for Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz
-
Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Details to Meri Why She Can't Trust Ex Kody and His Sole Wife Robyn
-
Kentucky sheriff accused of killing judge in Letcher County pleads not guilty
-
What to know about Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight: date, odds, how to watch
-
Harris makes scandal-plagued Republican the star of her campaign to win North Carolina