{"id":3624,"date":"2021-03-20T00:09:36","date_gmt":"2021-03-20T00:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.117.7.217\/unicdn\/?p=3624"},"modified":"2021-06-02T03:17:38","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T03:17:38","slug":"driftless-drifting-the-hunt-for-fossils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/driftlessareamag.com\/unicdn\/2021\/03\/20\/driftless-drifting-the-hunt-for-fossils\/","title":{"rendered":"Driftless Drifting- The Hunt for Fossils"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"<\/a>By Anthony Larson –<\/span><\/span>

I<\/span>t all started with a Facebook post from my friend Bob:
\u201cHeading to Wyalusing tomorrow and taking worms and poles. Lived nearby for 15 years and have never stopped in to see it. Maybe Pikes Peak and McGregor, IA too. We also know a fossil spot on the way back. We have an extra seat or two.\u201d
\u00a0
To know me, is to know that I\u2019m never one to turn down an adventure – especially with one of this magnitude. This \"\"intrigued me that I\u2019ve never been to Wyalusing, or Pike\u2019s Peak, but I\u2019ve never looked for fossils before either. Sure, fishing sounded good-n-all, but bumming with Bob and his son Hunter always presents a good time in itself.

I arrived at Bob\u2019s house and the adventure began.

<\/span>
In the excitement of the adventure, we forgot to look up what state parks were open or closed due to the Covid-19 \u2018safe in place\u2019 order. Of course, once we got to Wyalusing park, we discovered it was closed. <\/span>Strike One

Heartbreak ensued and led us to a virtual tour of the park (https:\/\/dnr.wi.gov\/topic\/parks\/name\/wyalusing\/)<\/span> and we moved on. After we got over from the drama of the closed park, we toured the area, and looked for some new public access fishing locations. The river was still high and many places weren\u2019t accessible. <\/span>Strike Two

The conversation turned quickly to fossil hunting. To my surprise, Bob was very knowledgeable on the topic. As we drove around Bob pointed out things that, as a lifelong driftless drifter, have taken for granted.\u00a0\u00a0 Things like the different layers of sediment and how they represent different timelines of when the driftless was formed. <\/span>

It wasn\u2019t too long into our drive where Bob found a wash out just off the road. Eagerly, Bob and Hunter jumped out of the truck and started hunting.\u00a0 Within minutes, Hunter produced a rock (to me) that contained many shells embedded into it- a rock I walked by probably a dozen times.

Bob explained to me “Once you know what you\u2019re looking for, you kinda get hooked”. And he was right. I dialed my eyes into looking at each rock, then it happened- I found one! It was small, about the size of the palm of my hand, and contained a small brown object buried in a tan piece of shale. Then, I found another, one a little bigger that contained 5 or more distinct shells varying in shapes and sizes.

Hunting for fossils is a family fun activity that requires little skill and equipment. All one has to do is look. Essentially, fossils are everywhere here in the driftless!


What is a fossil?

For those living under a rock (pun intended), the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Division of University of Wisconsin describe fossils as the preserved remains of deceased animals in rock. Those found throughout Wisconsin formed from creatures that lived in the warm, shallow seas that once covered the state\u201d.


How to find fossils:

To find fossils, simply go where their soil is overturned and rocks are exposed. Creek beds, old quarries, even the public access hiking bluffs all present the potential of finding fossils. Walking about, inspecting rocks for odd shapes embedded inside is a great family fun activity.
\u00a0
Getting started, there are several Facebook groups dedicated to driftless fossil hunting, as well as numerous websites available:

COPY & PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER:
http:\/\/fossilspot.com\/STATES\/WI.HTM?fbclid=IwAR1qWRQfqTtjXDHZjBLo6eiefvGloBzgamdmPiJrgwn_119pfY4o-Vy1tkY
https:\/\/wgnhs.wisc.edu\/wisconsin-geology\/fossils-of-wisconsin\/finding-wisconsin-fossils\/?fbclid=IwAR2g8GUCH2I72pURJ1NkYE2FlR2b4_ZK5TC_VdHDGoO5gRGa-yQe6WjqlQg
http:\/\/www.colossalfossils.com\/Content\/Fossil-Hunting-In-Wisconsin.cfm?fbclid=IwAR2HnM88ftp-zZh3qbt-7oQMIYMlx7NedrAfG4fvSIF5erK4JRItrALVcFI<\/span>


If you go

If you do find yourself going on a fossil hunt, there are some things to keep in mind: If you\u2019re choosing state parks, make sure to check the park is open. Due to social distancing, states and communities may close some parks; don\u2019t trespass, make sure you check with proper owners or that the property you\u2019re on is public access. I utilize the phone app Onyx Hunt to map my adventures, though there are other apps and plat maps that can be useful in finding public spaces to go; most importantly, be safe!

<\/span>


<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Anthony Larson – It all started with a Facebook post from my friend Bob:\u201cHeading to Wyalusing tomorrow and taking worms and poles. Lived nearby for 15 years and have never stopped in to see it. Maybe Pikes Peak and McGregor, IA too. 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