+DARKSIDEDAN Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Found this article on the internet. Reposted for information only Geocaching Trade Items: Things you should NEVER put in a cache As a Geocacher, you know that one of the things that can make finding a cache fun is the treasure, the goodies, the swag, the trade items that you might discover (especially for younger hunters). If you've been geocaching for a while, you probably also know that the quality and appropriateness of swag can vary widely from cache to cache. If you're ready to hide a geocache, or if you're bringing items to trade, here are a few things you should know. Geocaching is a family-friendly activity and cache contents should be suitable for all ages. Keep in mind this scenario: Young kids could go geocaching without an adult, ride a bike or hike to a cache and find it all on their own. It's for this reason that you'll want to make sure that you follow these guidelines (from Geocaching.com) for trade items. Explosives, fireworks, ammunition, lighters, knives (including pocket knives and multi-tools), drugs, alcohol and any illicit material should not be placed in a cache. If someone other than you places an inappropriate item in a cache that you own and this is reported, the cache may be temporarily disabled. As the cache owner, you may be asked to remove the questionable item before the cache listing is re-enabled. In addition to those items, there are things that we've learned never to put in a cache. Bubbles! A bottle of bubbles may seem like a good, kid friendly idea, but we've run into too many geocaches that had the bubbles leak and made a mess of the inside of the container. Those freebie bubbles they sometimes give out at weddings are especially susceptible to mess making. I know you're thinking that you'll put in a brand new sealed bottle of bubbles that won't leak. It will. It will expand and contract from the heat or some cacher will find it, open the seal, blow a few bubbles, put it back and now we're back to the mess making again. Soap: A bad idea for a couple reasons. For one, see the bubbles mess making. All it takes is a little bit of water and the soap quickly becomes mush. Messy mush. Soap also tends to have a scent which can attract animals. These animals don't know it's soap, they sometimes think it's food and will chew through a container to get at it. In fact avoid leaving anything that might have a scent like lip balm and perfume. Then there's actual food. This include candies, gum, nuts and all other things that animals might want to get at. Besides, would you want your kid eating food they found in a geocache? Quote Link to comment
+Goldenwattle Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I have seen a cache chewed to pieces because someone left soap in it. The soap was half eaten too. Quote Link to comment
Darwin473 Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 What on earth eats soap??? Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 8 minutes ago, Unit473L said: What on earth eats soap??? I did a google and the first results were mice, rats, dogs, and the North American Beaver. Quote Link to comment
+Budgietas Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 One thing I have found twice in caches are contraception devices - really - who thinks that is a good swap. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 48 minutes ago, Budgietas said: One thing I have found twice in caches are contraception devices - really - who thinks that is a good swap. If they don't have nonoxynol-9, I'll save them for gun barrels if caught in the rain. Quote Link to comment
+Gill & Tony Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 I've seen loose cigarettes in one cache. I also found an unused tampon during a check on one of my own caches. Quote Link to comment
+Goldenwattle Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 I found a cache with several empty cigarette lighters in it. That cache was a mess, and muddy, inside and out, so I left a new cache and trinkets, took the lighters to dispose of them, and the muddy trinkets to wash and put in another cache. Quote Link to comment
+DARKSIDEDAN Posted October 15, 2021 Author Share Posted October 15, 2021 I have found food, condoms, cigarette butts, broken glass, tampons, lube, rocks, poo, and fingernails in caches before. Why people think this is swap I do not know. 1 Quote Link to comment
+DARKSIDEDAN Posted October 23, 2021 Author Share Posted October 23, 2021 On 7/25/2021 at 6:34 AM, Unit473L said: What on earth eats soap??? Also deer, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, foxes, woodchucks, skunks, cats and dogs eat soap. There are two common reasons, the first time they were probably just curious about it and bit into it. This is highly likely as soaps tend to have a very nice smell. Perhaps the taste wasn't off-putting so they decided to try to eat it. Quote Link to comment
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