Park News
Winter 2005 Volume 15, No. 1
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National Park Service
Department of the Interior
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Minidoka Internment National Monument
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The Fossil Record
Monumental Mastodon Fossil Find!
Discovery of a mastodon tusk on BLM property near the Hagerman
Fossil Beds National Monument has renewed interest in what Phil Gensler,
park paleontologist, considers an underappreciated Idaho treasure. "We
uncover 3,000 to 5,000 fossils here every year," he said. "This is the
richest fossil site in the world for its time period, and people hardly
ever come out here."
Best known for the Hagerman Horse, Idaho's state fossil, the Fossil
Beds have yielded specimens of Pliocene Epoch animals from turtles to
saber-tooth cats. Mastodons are prehistoric relatives of modern
elephants. Discovery of a complete mastodon skeleton would justify "a
major dig," and could provide new scientific insights.
There are different types of mastodons. This fossil may be a
Gomphothere that's been found in Arizona, Nevada, and Southern
California, but never in Idaho. Finding a complete Gomphothere
skeleton would give scientists new insights on their range and
appearance.
To the average person, the tusk looks like a partially exposed layer
of rock. To Gensler, who unearths thousands of fossils a year and all
but breathes prehistoric bones, it's a rare find. "This is the largest
piece I've found," he said, gesturing to indicate a tusk several feet
long. "Usually what we find are little pieces. Look at this." He
picks up an inch-long fragment and cups it in his hand. "This isn't
tusk. This is bone. That means that there's a chance there's more
here."
The bluffs overlooking the Snake River didn't exist during the
Pliocene Epoch, 2 million to 5 million years ago. The area then was a
flat river delta leading to prehistoric Lake Idaho. Lush from
receiving twice southern Idaho's current annual rainfall, the delta
teemed with animals from prehistoric rodents to waterfowl to
mastodons.
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Gensler and his co-workers plan to begin excavating the tusk soon.
First, they'll dig around the area. When the fossil is exposed, they'll
brush away as much dirt as possible and apply special glue to keep the
brittle material from breaking into small pieces. Then they'll encase
it with plaster and strips of burlap. By then the whole thing will
weigh several hundred pounds.
After the plaster dries, they'll begin the unenviable task of
carrying it down the face of the brushy, snake-infested bluff to a truck
that will carry the fossil to the lab. Removing the bones from the
plaster, cleaning them, and gluing them together with anatomical
accuracy could take decades.
Fossil Beds Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is located at 221 North State Street in Hagerman,
Idaho. Come view our improved DVD show on our big screen, enjoy our
fossil exhibits, Minidoka Internment National Monument exhibit, and stop
by the Natural History Association bookstore. Entering the Visitor
Center or Monument is free. Winter hours are Thursday - Monday 9
a.m. - 5 p.m.; closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information
visit our website: www.nps.gov/hafo
or call (208) 837-4793 x5224.
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Meet More of Our Team
Mary Carpenter poses with the Hagerman
Horse and a Sabertooth Cat
Mary Carpenter was born and raised in central Wisconsin. She
received an Associate Degree in Graphic Arts. After several years as
a summer Earthwatch volunteer digging mammoths at the Hot Springs
Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD, she moved to Flagstaff, AZ. She
attended Northern Arizona University (NAU), receiving a B.A. in
Anthropology (minor Geology), and a M.S. in Quaternary Sciences
(paleontology). She began her job as Fossil Preparator with Hagerman
Fossil Beds NM (HAFO) August 2004.
Her work at HAFO involves a variety of tasks. Fossil preparation
is her primary job but she also assists with collections management
(such as organization and curation), field work (fossil survey,
excavation, and collection), fossil identifications, and some public
outreach. She thoroughly enjoys all aspects of her work. Fossil
preparation work is personally satisfying to her and also scientifically
important. The species diversification at HAFO includes mice to
mastodons as well as the Hagerman horse (Equus simplicidens).
HAFO has fossils collected from the monument which have yet to
be prepared and identified. There is likely enough work to keep her
busy for quite a while!
Craig Christensen, Mark Hagge, and Josh
Samuels 2004 Field Team
The 2004 field paleo crew team was instrumental in visiting 110
fossil localities within the monument and curating over 3000
fossils.
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Craig Christensen is a student at the University of Montana working
towards his bachelor degree in geology/anthropology. Craig is interested
in fossil vertebrates and has been working several fossil localities in
western MT. He works as a curator at the Paleontology Museum at the
University of Montana. 2004 was the first year Craig worked at Hagerman
Fossil Beds. While picking sediments from a locality within the
monument, Craig recovered two spores belonging to an aquatic plant
called "stonewort". This was the first evidence of this plant fossil
found here.
Mark Hagge is a student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison
working towards a bachelor degree in geology. Mark is interested in
Hagerman area fossil birds, the subject of his senior honors thesis.
This was his second year working at Hagerman Fossil Beds. Through
identifying fossil bird material, Mark discovered several new bird
fossils that are raptors (hawks, eagles, owls etc.). Since raptors are
rare as fossils at the Fossil Beds, Mark's findings add new insight to
the raptors that lived in the Hagerman Valley over 3 million years
ago.
Josh Samuels is working on his PhD at UCLA and is studying
fossil beaver. His dissertation discusses the fossil beaver (Castor
californicus) found at Hagerman. Josh has worked at the Fossil Beds
for five seasons and continues to play a very important role in field
collections, curation, and fossil identification. For the past two
years, Josh has presented data from Hagerman at the Society of
Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) meetings.
Lisa McClellan with her favorite horse.
Lisa McClellan is the newest member to the Hagerman Fossil Beds NM
staff. She works for the maintenance program while pursuing her
Psychology degree from Idaho State University. Lisa tracks maintenance
project information, checks contract work, and coordinates special
projects. She helps with our special interpretive programs as
well!
Lisa currently resides in Hagerman with her family. She is also a
member of the Hagerman Fire Department and the Hagerman Quick Response
Unit. She enjoys any time spent with her daughter, riding horses, and
reading.
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Library Program
Partnering again with the Hagerman Library, and Mrs. Wilma Butigan,
Librarian, we will offer a variety of programs during the cold and
bleak winter months.
Our first offering will be Lewis and Clark Crossing the
Centuries January 22nd 2-3 p.m. in the Visitor Center. This
exciting film traces their route from St. Louis, MO to Oregon's coast
and examines the changes 200 years have brought. Be sure to check our
web site (www.nps.gov/hafo) for
future updates.
We would like to extend our congratulations to Mrs. Butigan.
Hagerman Public Library was chosen as Idaho's Public Library of the Year
2005!
Local Visitors
It's a common dilemma tourists from all over the world visit
the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, but most of the Gooding Soil
Conservation District Supervisors had never visited here. In July 2004,
the District Supervisors remedied this problem with a tour of the
Visitor Center and a demo of the mock excavation educational program.
The tour culminated with a Horse Quarry tour.
Nan Reedy, Kay Hults, Joe Pavkov, Daniel
Butler, Annette Rousseau(NPS), Bonnie Hansen
The Fossil Record by Email
We are joining the 21st century and helping to conserve
our environment. The Fossil Record can now be sent out by email.
If you would like to receive your copy by email let us know at www.nps.gov/hafo. Include your name
and address and we will remove you from our regular mailing list.
Please be assured that we will provide you only with the information you
request and we respect your right to privacy. If, at any time, you do
not wish to receive future copies, please let us know and we will remove
your name from our list.
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Hagerman Fossil Beds and Minidoka
Internment National Monument's Greening
Both Hagerman Fossil Beds and Minidoka Internment National Monuments
are using new and innovative technologies as part of our commitment
to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The staff is looking
for ways to reduce our energy use, waste, and emissions.
Recycling of plastics, aluminum, paper, and batteries is in place at
headquarters. Recycling containers have also been made available to
park visitors at the Visitor Center in Hagerman. Future plans for
waysides include benches and waste receptacles that are built of
recycled plastic that will last two to five times longer than wood,
metal, or cement. Vaulted toilets made of recycled materials will be
installed at the overlooks.
Transportation within the park is another big area of opportunity.
We are trading out gasoline vehicles with vehicles that have far fewer
emissions. Our Interpretation, Education and Administrative staffs are
now driving hybrid gas/electric cars.
What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid car has both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The
car's computer system decides when to use which source of power
sometimes using only the electric motor, sometimes using only the gas
engine, and sometimes using both. A hybrid car never needs to be plugged
in. These vehicles are extremely fuel-efficient, have nearly zero
emissions, and fit most people's lifestyle and driving needs.
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Upcoming Winter Programs
Add some excitement to those blah winter days! Join us for some
interesting and fun winter programs. Our popular 'Fun Friday February
Film Fest" returns with this year's theme of horses!
New program offerings:
Bats of Idaho, Dragonflies of Idaho Burrowing Owls: learn
about these fascinating birds in the Magic Valley Region and the ongoing
studies
Wildflowers of the Magic Valley Region: introductory slide
show geared for beginners or the casual enthusiast
Water Developments and Wildlife: Potential Death Traps
Wind Power: How "Green" is Green?
Forgotten Lands- A Story of Southern Idaho: poetry, prose, and
a photographic journey through a landscape
A Sense of Place- Using Nature for Healing and Peace: an
exploration of "place" in nature and how it can provide both healing and
peace for our personal lives
Butterflies of Idaho, Birds of Idaho Weed Awareness!
Dates and times to be determined.
Check our web site for further details.
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Field Season 2004
For the 2004 field season, the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
paleo crew collected fossils at over 100 localities throughout the
monument. Along with NPS Park Paleontologist Phil Gensler and
Preparator Mary Carpenter, they explored rarely visited areas of the
park throughout the field season and made some very unusual finds.
Early in the summer, the field crew found an articulated skeleton of
a suckerfish (family Catostomidae). Most of the bones were not
scattered but found in their correct anatomical position. The fish was
plaster jacketed and brought back to the lab for preparation and
cleaning. An in situ specimen of Clemmys owyheensis (a pond
turtle) was found in the sediment nearby. The field crew also found a
jaw with several teeth from Thomomys gidleyi (a pocket gopher)
and a jaw from Trigonictis idahoensis (a grison from the weasel
family). There were also significant bird fossil finds, including bones
from rails, ducks, Hibbard's Swan, a cormorant, and a songbird the size
of a sparrow.
A particularly rare find was a humerus from the Hagerman mole,
Scapanus hagermanensis, one of only a handful of mole fossils
ever found in Idaho.
Printed edition of The Fossil Record paid for by the Hagerman
Fossil Council,Inc.
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Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Minidoka Internment National Monument
221 North State Street
P.O. Box 570
Hagerman, Idaho 83332-0570
Phone (208) 837-4297
Last Updated: 20-Jan-2005
http://www.nps.gov/hafo/record.htm
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