BLM confirms dinosaur bone found in Leavitt excavation

A Bureau of Land Management spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that prior to and during excavation for the Leavitt Reservoir expansion project in Shell Valley, a number of dinosaur bone fragments and a leg bone were discovered through survey and monitoring efforts conducted by BLM-permitted paleontologists. The findings were recovered and transported to Tate Geological Museum in Casper for further study and preservation. 

Tate Geological Museum Collections Manager J.P. Cavigelli reported that a sauropod fibula - the lower leg bone of a brontosaurus-shaped dinosaur’s back leg - was transported from Shell to Tate Geological Museum, a BLM-approved repository. He stated that the bone had initially been collected illegally, and BLM later recovered it. The fibula will stay in Casper, as BLM-collected specimens are required to be kept in approved repositories. It is not currently on display. Cavigelli said that in the future, paleontologists may return to the Leavitt area to continue looking for bones. 

The BLM would like to remind the public that if dinosaur fossils or other scientifically important fossils are discovered on BLM-managed lands, they should be left in place. 

“We encourage people to take photographs, record the location and report the discovery to their local BLM office. Scientifically significant fossils should only be uncovered or collected by permitted paleontologists,” a BLM spokesperson said. “Following these guidelines helps protect important paleontological resources and ensures they remain available for scientific research and public education for generations to come.”