YELLOWSTONE, Wyo. (KUTV) — Pokémon cards, Legos, hats, glasses and other unique items have been found in Yellowstone National Park’s hydrothermal areas.
Yellowstone’s Geology team had found and removed more than 20,100 pieces of trash, 5,600 rocks and sticks, and more than 280 hats from hydrothermal areas around the park as of early September 2026.
Park officials called it a record-setting year so far.
The following items had been pulled from Yellowstone National Park’s hydrothermal areas by staff so far in 2026.
Hats:
More than 280 hats were collected from Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas this season, including a FIFA 2026 Men’s World Cup hat, a “COWBOY HAT” baseball cap and a Roblox bucket hat from St. Kitts and Nevis; rewearable hats will be washed and donated to local organizations after the season.
More than 280 hats were collected from Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas this season, including a FIFA 2026 Men’s World Cup hat, a “COWBOY HAT” baseball cap and a Roblox bucket hat from St. Kitts and Nevis; rewearable hats will be washed and donated to local organizations after the season. (Photo: Yellowstone National Park)
Coins:
Yellowstone staff collected more than $18 in coins from hydrothermal areas during summer 2026, where they can damage bacterial and algal formations.
Yellowstone staff collected more than $18 in coins from hydrothermal areas during summer 2026, where they can damage bacterial and algal formations. (Photo: Yellowstone National Park)
Most common:
The most common items found in Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas included camera lens caps, hair ties, hotel key cards, pencils and sunglasses.
The most common items found in Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas included camera lens caps, hair ties, hotel key cards, pencils and sunglasses. (Photo: Yellowstone National Park)
Children’s Toys:
Toys and trinkets found in Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas included miniature race cars, bouncy balls, figurines, Junior Ranger badges, Lego stormtrooper, Pokémon cards, and rubber ducks.
Toys and trinkets found in Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas included miniature race cars, bouncy balls, figurines, Junior Ranger badges, Lego stormtrooper, Pokémon cards, and rubber ducks. (Photo: Yellowstone National Park)
Trash and objects must be removed because they could damage or permanently alter a hydrothermal feature by clogging its water supply, blocking or diverting its runoff channel, or polluting it with chemicals and sediment.
Upper Geyser Basin colors changed in the twentieth century because of trash and items thrown in by visitors, according to park officials.
Geology Program staff have been trained to safely do the removal work.
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