04-08-2025
Carlsbad Caverns officials uncover historic cave trash
CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) – Carlsbad Caverns say they keep finding trash from decades ago, when they first opened to the public in 1923. Cavern officials say even though they find more and more modern-day trash, sometimes they stumble across historic trash like a Coca-Cola bottle that made it to the top of a rock far off the main corridor trail.
What is guano and why was it a hot commodity in Carlsbad?
Officials say the shape of this type of bottle is called a 'hobble-skirt,' which Coca-Cola started using in the year 1915. The bottle has the word 'Carlsbad' embossed at the bottom of the bottle, meaning this bottle was fabricated near the cave.
This is not the first run-in with trash cavern staff have come across. In September 2024, an empty bag of Cheetos caused an uproar. Cavern officials say this small piece of trash has a big impact on the cavern; it can become a host for algae and mold.
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