Yellowstone National Park's geology team has had a record-breaking summer—not for eruptions, but for trash removal. As of early September, they've hauled more than 20,100 pieces of litter, 5,600 rocks and sticks, and over 280 hats out of the park's delicate hydrothermal features, according to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
The cleanup isn't just about keeping the park tidy. Foreign objects can permanently damage geysers and hot springs by clogging water supplies, diverting runoff, or introducing pollutants. The famous Morning Glory Pool in Upper Geyser Basin changed color in the 20th century because of trash tossed in by visitors. Park staff have even partially drained it in the past to clear debris.
Now, specially trained geology staff handle most removals, navigating the dangerous thermal areas with caution. Their finds this year range from the mundane to the outright bizarre.
Hats galore
More than 280 hats were recovered, including a FIFA 2026 Men's World Cup cap, a Roblox bucket hat from St. Kitts and Nevis, and one baseball hat that read “COWBOY HAT.” Yellowstone plans to wash and donate any wearable hats to local organizations at season's end.
Coins, jewelry, and a few surprises
Despite what some visitors might think, hot springs are not wishing wells. The team removed over $18 in coins—pesos, yen, euros, and Canadian dollars alongside U.S. currency—many thrown in intentionally. Coins can harm the bacterial and algal mats that give these springs their vivid colors, with damage taking years to reverse.
Jewelry—earrings, necklaces, bracelets—also turned up, a reminder to secure loose items before walking the boardwalks.
Among the more frequent finds were 54 camera lens caps, 47 hair ties, 42 pencils, 36 sunglasses, 20 hotel key cards, and 17 pacifiers. The grosser side of humanity surfaced too: six Invisalign retainers, 15 fake nails, floss picks, and a lump of pink children's slime stuck to sinter.
Head-scratchers included five AirPods, three Delta Flight Pins, an inhaler, a few golf tees, and a single Uno card. Toys were common—race cars, a rubber duck, junior ranger badges, and a McDonald's toy from 2010.
Staff favorites were seven instant photos (some showing the very features they were found in), six pressed pennies, four Pokémon cards, and a 2-inch copy of The Vampire Diaries.
Park officials urge visitors to “stash your trash”—pocket wrappers and tissues, secure hats on windy days, and stay on designated trails. As the debate over federal arts funding continues in Washington, Yellowstone's cleanup offers a reminder that preserving natural wonders requires constant vigilance. For those who follow the unsung staffers who keep institutions running, the geology team's work is a similar behind-the-scenes effort.
