Book 5, Question 35
Leave It There! Why Not Pocket a Fossil From a Park?
Many parks have rules against taking fossils home, and it is important to follow them. Where a fossil is found is an important clue, and moving it can lose that clue. The best plan is to look, take a photo, and tell a park ranger about your find.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 5
More fun facts
- Collecting fossils is not allowed in any U.S. national park.
- Scientists can collect fossils in parks only with a special research permit.
- If you find a fossil, the most important thing is to leave it where you found it.
- Where a fossil was found tells scientists how old it is, what it was buried with and where to look for more.
- You can take pictures and show them to a museum or a park ranger to help identify the fossil.
- Visitors who report fossils have helped parks learn about rare finds, like a saber-toothed cat fossil in Badlands National Park.
Sources: National Park Service, ASU, National Park Service
Questions kids ask
What should I do if I find a fossil in a park?
Leave it in place, take a picture and tell a park ranger.