SignalHub-'World-changing' impact: Carlsbad Caverns National Park scolds visitor who left Cheetos

National park officials in New Mexico are SignalHubcalling out whoever is responsible for leaving a full bag of Cheetos that spread mold and caused an associated stench.

The snack bag took 20 minutes to recover from the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southern New Mexico, the park's official Facebook page wrote on Sept. 6. Rangers meticulously removed the bag and all the molds that spread to nearby surfaces and caused a smell.

"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," the National Park Service said. "The processed corn, softened by the humidity of the cave, formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi."

The park service continued that "cave crickets, mites, spiders and flies soon organize into a temporary food web, dispersing the nutrients to the surrounding cave and formations."

"Molds spread higher up the nearby surfaces, fruit, die and stink. And the cycle continues," the agency said.

While some organisms can thrive in the cave, the microbial life and molds created by the bag do not, park officials said.

Dropped bag was 'completely avoidable'

Park officials said that while incidental impacts are often impossible to prevent, a dropped snack bag is "completely avoidable."

"To the owner of the snack bag, the impact is likely incidental. But to the ecosystem of the cave it had a huge impact," the post read. "Great or small we all leave an impact wherever we go. How we choose to interact with others and the world we share together has its effects moment by moment."

The post urged park visitors to "leave the world a better place than we found it."

Over 100 million pounds of waste accumulated at U.S. national parks annual, according to nature research group Leave No Trace.

Yosemite scolds park visitors burying toilet paper

It's not the first time park officials have used social media to discourage improper park etiquette and it certainly won't be the last. In July, Yosemite’s National Park Service scolded those who bury toilet paper in an Instagram post.

“Picture this: Yosemite's majestic wilderness, stunning vistas, and… surprise! Used toilet paper waving hello near Rancheria Falls— a full roll too!” NPS wrote in the caption.

While a common technique, its often exposed by weather and erosion and animals looking for nesting material.

"Because really, nobody wants to stumble upon a surprise package left behind by an anonymous outdoor enthusiast," the agency said. "Let's keep things clean and classy out there, by packing out whatever you carry in."

Contributing: Amaris Encinas