“Information from other visitors is often very helpful to investigators. If you have information that could help recover the stolen fossils or that could help identify those responsible, the park asks you to please submit a tip.” –NPS
Park rangers are asking for help recovering Triassic era fossils stolen from Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. The National Park Service is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s identification and arrest.
KSL reports park authorities were alerted to the theft after visitor who is a paleontologist and was familiar with the site commented they noticed something was missing from a photo the park posted to social media. After sifting through photos and paleontological records, park officials determined the 200 million years old trace reptile track fossils were stolen sometime between August 2017 – August 2018.
“Fossils are extremely rare. I mean, just think of all the life that has ever lived on this planet and there are specific conditions that need to happen in order for a fossil to form. They do give these glimpses back into life on Earth over these hundreds of millions and billions of years. … Because they’re so rare, it does give scientists a better understanding of what Earth has experienced in the past.” –Shauna Cotrell
If you have any information to could help identify the suspects and hopefully return the “irreplaceable paleontological resources” we implore you reach out using the contacts below:
CALL or TEXT the Tip Line 888-653-0009
ONLINE go.nps.gov/SubmitATip
EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov
EMERGENCY dial 9-1-1
NPS Investigative Services Branch:
US Park Rangers of Capitol Reef National Park are seeking information from the public to aid in the recovery of irreplaceable paleontological resources and identify those responsible for the vandalism and theft of trace fossils.
Park officials determined that sometime between August 2017 and August 2018, trace reptile track fossils dating from the Triassic period were removed from a trackway within the park.
Up to $1,000 is offered for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible. Information from other visitors is often very helpful to investigators. If you have information that could help recover the stolen fossils or that could help identify those responsible, the park asks you to please submit a tip.
You don’t have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know:
CALL or TEXT the Tip Line 888-653-0009
ONLINE go.nps.gov/SubmitATip
EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov
EMERGENCY dial 9-1-1
