Kylie's Fossil Find

Seven year old Kylie Ferguson found a rare saber tooth cat fossil in the Badlands

Tom Ferguson

In May 2010, a seven year girl named Kylie found a fossil near the visitor center at Badlands National Park. She did the right thing. She reported her find to rangers. It turned out to be an exceptionally rare and well-preserved saber tooth cat fossil. A survey of the area led to the discovery of additional fossil material. The area is now known as the Saber Site.

Teachers As your students learn about fossils, this nonfiction story will help them understand the science of paleontology and the importance of protecting our natural resources. Furthermore, they may be able to better identify with the real life story of another young student.

Kylie's Fossil Find Lesson Plan (51KB)
Kylie's Fossil Find PowerPoint (8.9MB)
Kylie's Fossil Find Script (38KB)
Kylie's Fossil Find Video (5 min)
Distance Learning Video Conference

Summer 2012 Visitor Information

The Saber Site fossil quarry is located just outside the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. It is open daily from 9:00 to 4:30, June 4 through August 24. Visitors can observe paleontologists at work and learn more about the site from park rangers. Don't miss this chance to see real science in action! The fossil prep lab, inside the visitor center, is also open daily from 9:00 to 4:30. Stop by and learn more about the discoveries being made.