Yellowstone crews extract over 20,000 pieces of trash from geysers and hot springs
In 2026, Yellowstone's geology team removed more than 20,100 items of litter, including hats, rocks and even Pokemon cards, from its hydrothermal areas.
Yellowstone National Park’s geology staff have set a record this year by extracting more than 20,100 pieces of trash, alongside 5,600 rocks and sticks, from its geysers and hot springs. The haul includes over 280 hats, camera lenses, jewelry, baby pacifiers, AirPods, Pokemon cards and even a tiny copy of a TV show, all of which can endanger visitors and damage the delicate hydrothermal systems. Because venturing off marked trails can lead to fatal burns in water heated to 200-400 °F, the park conducts regular clean-ups to protect the features from clogging, runoff diversion, or chemical pollution.
The team, trained in “safe hydrothermal navigation,” also drains pools like Morning Glory to retrieve debris, then repurposes usable items such as washed hats for local charities. While $18 in lost change was collected, the park has not decided what to do with recovered coins and jewelry. Officials urge visitors to secure personal items and pack out all waste to preserve the park’s natural integrity.
