Cheetos Incident Disrupts Carlsbad Caverns Ecosystem

A bag of Cheetos left on the cave floor at Carlsbad Caverns National Park has caused significant ecological disruption, highlighting the impact of littering on delicate ecosystems. Found off-trail in the Big Room, the snack's softening due to cave humidity fostered microbial and fungal growth, attracting cave crickets, mites, spiders, and flies. This incident led to a temporary food web forming around the discarded snack, which park rangers spent 20 minutes cleaning up to prevent further contamination. National Park Service (NPS) officials emphasized that while such actions may seem trivial, they can be 'world-changing' for cave life. With over 300 million visitors generating nearly 70 million tons of trash annually, the event serves as a reminder of the need for responsible visitorship and waste management in national parks. The NPS urges greater awareness to mitigate the impacts of human activity on fragile environments.