Cheetos Bag Disrupts Delicate Ecosystem in Carlsbad Caverns

A discarded snack bag has triggered mold growth and contamination, posing a significant threat to the cave's fragile environment.

Rangers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park discovered a discarded Cheetos bag in the Big Room, the largest cave chamber by volume in North America.
The processed corn from the Cheetos triggered mold growth on the cavern floor and nearby formations, disrupting the natural ecosystem.
Cave crickets, mites, spiders, and flies formed a temporary food web around the contamination, spreading the mold further.
Park rangers and volunteers regularly clean up litter, including human waste, to protect the cave's environment, using specialized tools like bamboo toothbrushes and tweezers.
Efforts to educate visitors on the importance of preserving the cave's ecosystem are ongoing, but challenges remain in ensuring personal responsibility.