Fossils are the remains or traces of once living plants or 

animals that typically were buried in layers of sediment. 

Over time, these sediments turned to layers of 

sedimentary rock, preserving entombed remains as 

fossils. Paleontology is the scientific study of fossils. 

Fossils may be shells, bones, or plant leaves, which are 

called body fossils.

What Are Fossils?

Preserved tracks, trails, and burrows record an organism’s 

life activities and are called trace fossils.

Trilobite (above) and leaf (right) are body fossils often found on National 

Forest System lands.

Reptile tracks (above) are trace fossils found on some National Forest 

System lands.

Ancient organisms that are commonly fossilized include 

plants, invertebrates (animals without bone, cartilage, or 

teeth), vertebrates (animals with bone, cartilage, or teeth), 

and microfossils (very small organisms that generally 

require magnification to identify).

Unearthing Fossils

Fossils are known to occur on more than two-thirds of 

National Forest System lands. Fossil-bearing 

sedimentary rocks are often well exposed in the arid lands 

of the Western States, and the following National Forest 

System lands are particularly noteworthy for their 

paleontological resources:

Oglala National Grassland 

Toadstool Geologic Park, NE

Comanche National Grassland 

Picket Wire Canyonlands Purgatoire River 

Dinosaur Track Site, CO

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Berlin-Ichthyosaur Park, NV

Gallatin National Forest

Gallatin Petrified Forest, MT

Sedimentary rocks with potential to contain fossils 

in National Forest System lands of the contiguous 

United States.

Saving Our History

Fossils are unique, nonrenewable resources that paint an 

irreplaceable portrait of the ancient history of Earth’s life. 

This history was written over billions of years in the pages 

of sedimentary rock layers. 

Paleontological evidence of former climates in sedimentary rocks from the deep past to sediments from recent 

glacial ages helps us understand the history and pattern of 

today’s changing climate.

Fossils on National Forest 

System lands are managed 

by the Forest Service in order to protect these valuable 

paleontological resources in 

trust for the American public. 

These are excellent places 

for learning and discovery. Fossil mammal tooth from Pawnee 

National Grassland, CO.

Regulations for the management of fossils 

on National Forest System lands are 

published as Title 36 Code of Federal 

Regulations, Part 291. 

A link to the regulations is 

provided at the Forest Service 

Paleontology Web site: 

http://www.fs.fed.us/geology/fossils.html

Human remains and artifacts are cultural resources, not 

paleontological resources, and are strictly regulated by 

law. Do not remove or disturb cultural resources, as well 

as fossils found in proximity to cultural resources. If disturbance is observed, please report locations to your local 

Forest Service district office.
United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service FS-1058 October 2015 

PALEONTOLOGY

Traces of Past Life 

Keeping a Piece of

History

Working Alongside a 

Professional Paleontologist

You may be able to collect fossils from National Forest 

System lands without a permit if they are:

• Common invertebrate or plant fossils,

• Collected for personal use and not for resale,

• Gathered by hand or with nonpowered hand tools, and

• The amount is less than 25 pounds per person, per day, 

 and not more than 100 pounds per year. 

Leave little to no evidence of your collection efforts.

If you collect fossil specimens from National Forest 

System lands under permit, these fossil specimens are 

owned by the Federal Government and must be housed 

in approved repository institutions, such as natural history 

museums and universities, to ensure their proper care.

Fossil bones of a mosasaur, an 

aquatic reptile from Buffalo Gap 

National Grassland, SD. Vertebrate fossils like these can only 

be collected with a permit.

You have the

Responsibility

to know 

when and where

 it is legal to collect

fossils. 

Check with your local forest 

office for more details on 

legally collecting fossils. This 

will help you avoid fines from 

collecting in off-limit areas.

An upright stump of petrified wood is not common and can only be 

collected with a permit for research or education.

Come work alongside 

professional

paleontologists! 

Teeth in jaw of fossil pig, Toadstool Geologic Park, Oglala National 

Grassland, NE

Dinosaur shoulder bone, Uncompahgre National Forest, CO.

Check the PIT Web site at:

http://www.passportintime.com/for more information.

For general information on the Forest Service 

Paleontology program, visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/

geology/fossils.html.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The Forest Service’s Passport-in-Time (PIT) program 

seeks volunteer assistance on many projects.