Fossil Collecting

There are two methods of collecting fossils:

SURFACE COLLECTING (collecting isolated fossils that are clearly on the surface of the ground) is only permitted on private land, with the landowner's permission, and on provincial Crown land.

EXCAVATING (digging) refers to dislodging in any manner, fossils imbedded/buried in the ground or rock face. Excavating requires a permit, which is available only to professional palaeontologists.

Fossils in Protected Areas

Fossils may not be collected in any provincial park, national park, or protected area. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is located in Midland Provincial Park hectares of grassland in the Red Deer River Valley. Collecting in this area is not permitted.

Recording

If you find a fossil, note its location as that is as important as the fossil itself.

• Photograph it and note any visible features.

• Locate it on a map, using permanent landmarks or GPS if available.

• Leave it buried. However, if a piece of the fossil has been dislodged and is laying on the surface of the ground, bring it to the Museum.

• Contact the Museum to report the find through tyrrell.fossilreport@gov.ab.ca, make arrangements to provide the map, specimen and/or photograph.

Keeping

If you live in Alberta, and legally surface collected a fossil, you may keep the material as custodian of the fossil, although ownership remains with the Province of Alberta. The Historical Resources Act prohibits removal of fossils from the province without a Disposition Certificate issued by the Government of Alberta.

For more information on the Historical Resources Act, contact the Royal Tyrrell Museum's Resource Management Program.

To read the Historical Resources Act online, visit the Alberta King's Printerpage.

Selling

Fossils collected in Alberta cannot be sold without obtaining permission from the Government of Alberta through the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Fossils sold in Alberta shops are often collected in the United States, Europe, and Africa where laws regarding fossils are different.