Yellowstone's thermal pools damaged by over 23,000 pieces of trash
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 02:43 · Archive
Yellowstone National Park's geology team has collected over 23,000 pieces of trash from geysers, hot springs and boardwalks as of early October, marking a record-setting year for the park. Among the debris are unusual finds including five AirPods, three Delta flight pins, a singular Uno card, rubber ducks, dental retainers, camera lens caps and hair ties. The team also retrieved roughly 10,700 rocks and sticks, more than 360 hats, international coins and an inhaler.
The park welcomed over 4.7 million visitors in 2025, contributing to debris accumulation in high-traffic areas such as Old Faithful and the Midway Geyser Basin. Margery Price, a physical science technician with the Yellowstone Geology Program, told National Geographic that most garbage, including food wrappers and maps, is deposited unintentionally and swept away by the park's strong winds.
Any foreign material can harm hydrothermal features by clogging water supplies, polluting water or blocking runoff channels. Even natural materials like rocks and sticks require removal as they cause clogging. Trash can alter the chemistry of the springs, with chemicals from microplastics entering the water and affecting the microbes that provide the pools with their distinctive hues.
How it is being reported
- Reckless visitors are destroying Yellowstone’s iconic thermal pools with trashAirPods, rubber ducks and dental retainers among debris collected near Old Faithful and Midway Geyser BasinNew York Post · 26 Oct, 02:28
- Reckless visitors are destroying Yellowstone's iconic thermal pools with trashThat's a lot of garbage: Yellowstone National Park's geology team collected over 23,000 pieces of trash from geysers and hot springs, including AirPods and rubber ducks.Fox News · 25 Oct, 17:08
In this story: Yellowstone National Park · Old Faithful · Midway Geyser Basin · Margery Price · Yellowstone Geology Program · National Park Service
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