Yellowstone’s Thermal Pools Are Being Destroyed by Visitors’ Trash, Including AirPods, Rubber Ducks and Dental Retainers
Yellowstone’s thermal pools are at risk of being destroyed because of trash left by millions of guests.
The Yellowstone Geology Team removed more than 20,100 pieces of trash from the park’s hydrothermal areas this year.
Examples given: over 280 hats, five AirPods, three Delta flight pins, an inhaler, three golf tees and an Uno card.
Yellowstone National Park sees more than 4.5 million visitors every year.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced that, as of September, staff trained in safe hydrothermal navigation had removed more than 20,100 pieces of trash from Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas. The park is described as primarily in Wyoming and partly in Montana and Idaho.
Other items included more than 280 hats, five AirPods, three Delta flight pins, an inhaler, three golf tees and an Uno card, per the Yellowstone Geology Team. The most common items reported were camera lens caps (54), hair ties (47), binkies (17), hotel key cards (20), pencils (42) and sunglasses (36).
In addition to what the article calls the record-breaking amount of trash removed this year, the team also removed more than 5,600 rocks and sticks, to prevent foreign materials from damaging or permanently altering any hydrothermal features, per the Yellowstone National Park Geology Team.
Specific feature named: Morning Glory Pool. The article says it previously lost its crystal-clear blue color in the 20th century as a result of trash and items thrown in by visitors. USGS explained on its website that any foreign material may clog a thermal pool’s water supply, block or divert its runoff channel, or pollute it with chemicals and sediment.
Most trash is accidentally dropped or blown into the hot springs by unexpected gusts of wind. By contrast, the Yellowstone Geology Team collected more than $18 in coins from people attempting to use the hot springs as wishing wells.
Although the idea can seem fun and whimsical, coins can harm bacterial and algal formations, creating damage that can take months to years to undo.
Bruce Fouke, identified as a geobiologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, told National Geographic that every thermal feature results from a very complex plumbing system, and added in short form that trash plugs up that plumbing system.
The items described as the most disgusting fished out were six Invisalign retainers, 15 fake nails, numerous floss picks and one lump of glittery pink slime from the park’s hot springs, per the team.
Children also left behind toys, including eight mini race cars, three bouncy balls, dozens of assorted figurines, rubber ducks, fidget spinners and other trinkets.
