NPS photo by Cindy McIntyre.
Introduction
Fossils and paleontological sites are irreplaceable and nonrenewable. They are invaluable to science as they provide our most important evidence for the history of life on Earth. A single fossil specimen may be the only scientific record for the existence of an entire species that lived in the past. Like rocks and other natural and cultural objects, collecting fossils for recreational, commercial, or educational use is prohibited in all units of the National Park System. Collection for scientific purposes is only permissible with a park-approved research permit.
Leave No Trace
Fossil sites are also vulnerable to damage from inappropriate activities. Be sure to practice Leave No Trace principles whenever you are in the outdoors, particularly if you are in an area where fossils may be present.The seven Principles of Leave No Trace provide a universal framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. These principles can be applied anywhere and are important in the protection of fossils in national parks. Using the principles can empower you to minimize your impacts every time you are outdoors.Of particular importance at potential fossil sites is to:
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Travel and camp on durable surfaces, and
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Leave what you find.
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Paleontological Resources Preservation Act
The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) was enacted in 2009. This groundbreaking law gives the National Park Service and other federal agencies additional direction on how to how to best protect fossils and other paleontological resources in all units of the National Park System. Other applicable laws and policies, including the National Park Service Organic Act, also mandate the protection of fossils in national parks, but it was not until passage of the PRPA that there was a specific law mandating the protection of fossils on all public lands. The new law is fostering greater stewardship of paleontological resources among the public and increasing the use of scientific principles and expertise in managing fossils on national park lands.
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If you Discover a Fossil
Photo by Tom Ferguson.
Park visitors are critical stewards of fossils in national parks, and are essential partners of park rangers and park paleontologists in protecting the paleontological geoheritage of national parks.
Seven-year-old Kylie Ferguson’s discovery of a rare saber tooth cat skull in Badlands National Park (South Dakota) during 2010 is a prime example of a significant fossil discovery made by a park visitor and reported to park rangers. After Kylie and her family had attended a Junior Ranger program, they discovered something unusual that they thought might be a fossil while exploring the badlands and reported this find to a ranger. The fossil turned out to be an exceptionally rare and well-preserved nimravid (saber tooth cat) fossil. A follow-up assessment based on Kylie’s information led NPS paleontologists to the discover more fossils at the location.
Visitors in other parks have reported shark teeth and other fossils to park rangers, adding to our knowledge of the paleontological resources of national parks.
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What To Do If You Discover a Fossil
If you discover a fossil in a national park, take a photograph of it, record its location (mark its spot on a map, or use a smartphone or handheld GPS device to record its coordinates, etc.), leave it where you found it, and tell a ranger.
Vandalism and Inappropriate Activities
Vandalism and other inappropriate activities have unfortunately damaged fossils. For example, in 2014, a dinosaur bone along the Fossil Discovery Trail at Dinosaur National Monument (Utah) had to be removed because it was damaged by an act of vandalism by a park visitor. The removal was necessary to protect the remaining portion of the bone from accelerated deterioration but has deprived future visitors the opportunity to experience seeing it in situ (in place) in a natural exposure of the Morrison Formation. And in 2022, the National Park Service reported the theft of rare fossil reptile tracks in Capitol Reef National Park (Utah).
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How to Report Vandalism and Inappropriate Activities
If you see signs of vandalism or someone acting inappropriately during your visit in a park, please contact a park ranger or make a report through NPS Investigative Services.
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Last updated: October 10, 2024