Mask Casualties

In May of 2020, I noticed face masks that had been discarded at various places that were not trash cans. It started with one here and one there. It didn’t matter if the mask was disposable or cloth — the sightings were becoming more frequent.

Then I drove to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park in July 2020. I couldn’t help but notice masks that were lying in shallow hot springs and forests. When I saw this new type of trash around at a National Park, disturbing the natural beauty we were all there for, I was saddened.

I’ve seen the stories about the massive amount of masks in landfills and the oceans. They often don’t even make it to a dump. In some cases (like at Yellowstone), I could tell that wind was likely the culprit, and there were no bad intentions or laziness. Blown-away hats often accompanied masks.

One day, I was walking into Target and started to put my disposable mask on when the wind snuck up and ripped it from my hands. I picked it up from the wet pavement and threw it away. When I walked inside, a young guy was standing at a booth with a box of masks. I tried to grab one from the box, but the strings were all connected, and I accidentally pulled out two, with one dropping to the floor. In the trash, it went.

I started taking pictures of masks on my four-month road trip around Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Washington. When I returned to Missouri, I continued taking pictures anytime I saw one lying on the ground, discarded and unwanted.

I don’t know why I started taking pictures. I suppose it was to document what the world looked like during Covid-19. I’ve compiled the photos here for you to see. Sadly, I missed around ten masks before I started taking pictures.

(All photos by Christy Teglo)