Yellowstone Staff Remove Record 20,100 Pieces of Trash From Hot Springs This Year
Strong winds and record visitor numbers have contributed to an unprecedented amount of litter collected from Yellowstone's hydrothermal areas, including hats, pencils and baby pacifiers.
Staff at Yellowstone National Park have removed a record-setting 20,100 pieces of trash from the park's hydrothermal areas so far this year, according to The Guardian. The park, one of the most highly visited in the United States, has struggled with litter blown into its geyser-filled landscape by strong winds.
Park officials say the combination of heavy visitor traffic and gusty conditions has worsened the trash problem, with wind carrying loose items into hot springs and other hydrothermal features that are often difficult or hazardous to clean.
What's Turning Up
Among the most commonly found items were 280 hats, 54 camera lens caps, 47 hair ties, 42 pencils, 36 pairs of sunglasses, 20 hotel key cards and 17 baby pacifiers, according to the park's tally. The variety of items underscores how easily personal belongings can be lost to the wind while visitors photograph or observe the park's geothermal features.
The record trash count reflects both the popularity of Yellowstone as a destination and the practical challenges of protecting sensitive natural areas from the incidental effects of high visitor numbers.
Sources
- Hats, pencils and baby pacifiers: Yellowstone staffers retrieve record amount of trash from hot springs — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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