Series: Park Paleontology News—Vol. 17, No. 2, Fall 2025

All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. Park Paleontology news provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources.

• Article 1: Lost, then Found…then Lost Again?: The Importance of Fossil Locality Documentation in National Parks

  

  The likelihood of discovering a fossil before it’s lost to erosion is incredibly small – which is why it’s so alarming that even once discovered, a fossil can be lost again through the disappearance of the information that makes it scientifically valuable. Thankfully, the National Park Service has come up with a way to help keep its fossils found! Read more

• Article 2: A Path to Understanding and Mitigating Threats to National Park Service Fossils

  

  NPS Senior Paleontologist Vincent Santucci’s experiences at Badlands National Park and Petrified Forest National Park helped shape legal protections for fossils on public lands. Read more

• Article 3: Paleotería: A paleontological take on the classic Latino American game “La Lotería”

  

  Paleotería combines the art and gameplay of the Latino American game La Lotería with fossils, prehistoric animals, notable careers, and objects inspired by the paleontology of the National Park Service. Read more

• Article 4: The Incredible Fossil Plants of Yellowstone National Park

  

  Yellowstone National Park has one of the best records of fossil plants in the National Park System. It is especially famous for its “fossil forests” dating back to about 50 million years ago, preserved by volcanic activity. Read more

• Article 5: Preparation of Marine Mammal Fossils from Point Reyes National Seashore: A Collaboration with John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

  

  The discovery of new specimens of marine mammals from Point Reyes National Seashore (PORE) led to a collaboration between Pacific West Region (PWR) parks to facilitate future studies. Read more

• Article 6: Paleontology of Morrison–Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark

  

  The five components of Morrison–Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark recognize historically and scientifically significant locations in dinosaur paleontology, including Late Jurassic quarries and track sites from the middle and end of the Cretaceous. Read more

• Article 7: Preserving The History Of National Park Service Paleontology Through Oral History Interviews

  

  Beginning in 2016 oral history interviews were conducted with paleontologists, NPS staff, and other notable individuals to preserve first-person accounts related to the history of paleontology in the national parks. The interviews include audio recordings and transcriptions which are available online at the NPS History Collection website. Read more