Carlsbad Caverns National Park, nestled within the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico, is one of the country’s natural treasures. It’s home to more than 119 limestone caves, winding canyons, and unique wildlife like bats, cougars, and swallows. The park’s crown jewel, known as the Big Room, holds the record as North America’s largest cave chamber by volume — stretching nearly 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet tall.
Last year, park rangers used their official Facebook page to remind visitors about the importance of taking their trash home. Even a small piece of litter, they warned, can harm the ecosystem and threaten the animals that have lived in the caves for generations.
What Happened at Carlsbad Caverns That Involved Cheetos?
On September 6, 2024, the park’s Facebook page posted a detailed message about an incident where an explorer accidentally dropped a snack bag inside the Big Room — one of the most heavily visited parts of the cavern.
The warning began: “Here at Carlsbad Caverns, we love that we can host thousands of people in the cave each day. Incidental impacts can be difficult or impossible to prevent. Like the simple fact that every step a person takes into the cave leaves a fine trail of lint.”
“Other impacts are completely avoidable. Like a full snack bag dropped off-trail in the Big Room. To the owner of the snack bag, the impact is likely incidental. But to the ecosystem of the cave it had a huge impact.”
Why Are Cheetos So Dangerous to Carlsbad Caverns?
Officials went on to explain that the snack bag — filled with processed corn chips — had softened from the cave’s humidity. That moisture created a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and molds to grow rapidly.
“Molds spread higher up the nearby surfaces, fruit, die, and stink. And the cycle continues,” the post continued.
“At the scale of human perspective, a spilled snack bag may seem trivial, but to the life of the cave it can be world changing.”
While the person responsible was never identified, rangers confirmed they were able to safely remove the food waste from the cave walls and surrounding surfaces. Their swift action prevented long-term damage and restored balance to the area’s delicate ecosystem.
The park’s story serves as a reminder for future explorers: even one forgotten snack can make a big difference underground. Hold on to your food and avoid eating until you’re out of the cave to help keep its natural beauty intact.
