In September 2024, information dispersed on the Internet: in the caves of the National Park in New Mexico (USA), the local fauna died due to the fact that one of the tourists dropped a pack of chips there. We decided to check if this is so.

The fact that one of the legendary natural-state domains was destroyed because of the snacks left by the tourist, some Russian media reported (for example, Life And Mash) And Information Portals. Discuss the resonant incident users of social networks ("VKontakte" X, "Classmates" Instagram*), Platform blog And forums. They wrote about the alleged environmental disaster and popular Telegram channels: ""Ax+"(1.7 million views at the time of writing this analysis),"Dual"(423 000),"Medica"(295 000),"KB"(243,000),"Putin in Telegram"(185,000) and others. The posts reported that the battle of insects unfolded for an unfinished snack, and then the chips were damp and covered with mold, which subsequently spread throughout the caves. All this, according to the authors of publications, led to the death of the local fauna. Some clarify that, according to preliminary calculations, about 100 animals died. Most of the posts are accompanied by a picture of a bag of chips lying on the ground.

Source: Carlsbad Caverns National Park / Facebook

Carlsbad caves -National Park in New Mexico (USA), which includes about 120 caves known throughout the world due to its size, accessibility, as well as the variety and beauty of rocky formations inside. The park is recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only a few of the caves of the reserve are open to visiting, since tourists, not wanting it themselves, reserve traces that affect the ecosystem of the park. Moreover, we are talking not only about garbage, but also about such seemingly trifles, like hair or pile from clothes. As for the chips, then in the cave allowed To bring only water-neither drinks with various tastes, nor any food (including chewing gum and sweets) cannot be taken with you. Moreover, the main reason for the ban is not in potential pollution, but that the remains of snacks and/or sweet drinks can attract wild animals to the cave, which will later be difficult to get out.

Nevertheless, not all visitors obviously comply with these rules. In early September, many American and world media (for example, Forbes, CNN, Euronews, Daily Mail, ABC, The Guardian) They wrote about the incident with a pack of Cheetos chips, left in one of the caves of the National Park with a careless tourist. Journalists emphasized that the incredible snacks had an “changing world” effect on the ecosystem of the cave. However, in none of these publications it was possible to find references to the death of animals - neither mass nor a single. There is no mention of the destruction of caves or their ecosystems and in the primary source of news - post In the account of the National Park on Facebook*, which is referred by most authors of articles in foreign media. On September 6, 2024, employees of the Karlsbad caves really spoke on the social network page about an unpleasant incident with corn sticks and published a photo of the left bag. The post reports that softening chips have become an ideal environment for the propagation of microbes and fungi. Insects and spiders attracted by food produced these microorganisms throughout the cave. As a result, employees had to spend 20 unpleasant minutes to clean the surfaces from the consequences of someone else's uncleanness. However, no destruction of the sights and/or death of animals is not mentioned.

Moreover, judging by post, published in the same account the next day, such irresponsible behavior of tourists is far from uncommon. At the end of each day, the employees of the Carlsbad caves bypass the territory and remove garbage left by visitors, and sometimes encounter not only wrappers from chewing gum and napkins, but also with waste of human life. Employees of the National Park urge you not to confuse caves with garbage and use urns, and, if necessary, specially equipped toilets.

Outside journalists contacted the author of the post. It turned out to be one of the rangers of the park Erich König, who toldthat in fact, the incident with chips occurred back in July 2023. His publication was not at all a summary of the environmental disaster, but just a reminder to visitors to the National Park on how important it is to observe the rules and try not to leave any traces behind. The case of Cheetos was chosen by König as a bright illustration of what a quick and unexpected negative effect can even have such a trifle as a forgotten packaging of chips.

Thus, an unpleasant incident really occurred in the Karlsbad Caves National Park, when, due to the chips abandoned by one of the visitors, a mold started in the cave, which was even more severe by insects. However, according to the staff of the park themselves, they go around the territory daily, removing the garbage left by the visitors, and the elimination of pollution that caused the Cheetos corn sticks abandoned in the cave took about 20 minutes from them. About the dead animals, especially in the amount of 100 individuals, or about the complete destruction of the sight in the posts of employees of the park or in notes of foreign publications.

*The Russian authorities consider Meta Platforms Inc., which owns social networks Facebook and Instagram, an extremist organization, its activities in Russia are prohibited.

Photo on the cover: Apascium, CC by 2.0Via Wikimedia Commons