Peace River, Florida: 100% Fail-Proof Fossil Finding!
The miraculous happened in 1990: dinosaurs were resurrected.
In hard-cover form, anyway.
Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park was an absolute hit, topping best-seller charts for 12 consecutive weeks.1 Readers are transported to a world where dinosaurs existed once again, examining a sick Stegosaurus with paleontologist Alan Grant on one page, then running for their lives from Velociraptors on the next.
Among sequels and big-screen adaptations, the attempt to satiate the public’s dino demands has culminated in an exhilarating river ride at Universal Studios. While the creatures themselves may be long gone, the dinosaurs’ popularity doesn’t seem to be going extinct any time soon.
However, popularity has a downside – long lines and bustling crowds.
Luckily for you, there’s another way to experience the wonder of Jurassic Park outside of Universal Studios. You won’t see any animatronics along the Peace River, but you’re bound to find something even better: fossils. Now, that’s an authentic piece of Jurassic Park!
So grab your shovel and lace up your wading boots – it’s time to get digging.
Peace River, Keeper of Prehistory
Flowing from Lake Hamilton to the Gulf of Mexico, the Peace River gently winds through Central Florida, providing 106 miles of rich prehistory.
Given the Spanish and Seminole names, there has been some debate about what came first: the “peace” or the “peas?”
The river was named Talakchopco Hatchee by the Seminole, a Native American people who arrived in the area in the late 1700s. The name translates to “river of the long peas,” and it probably stemmed from the wild peas growing along the banks.
While some have wondered if “peas” was distorted into “peace,” historians have finally put the matter to rest, finding definitive evidence from a 14th-century Spanish map that “peace” came first. Before the Seminoles had arrived, early Spanish explorers had traversed the area and dubbed the waters “Rio de la Paz.”2
But before that, the river was simply called “home” by prehistoric creatures big and small.
Today, Peace River is classified as a blackwater river, which sounds ominous, but actually just means the waters are slow-moving; in some places, the river is so still there’s hardly a ripple to be seen on the smooth surface. This serene quality does make “Peace” the perfect name for this stretch of water! Thanks to its natural tranquility, paddling down this river in a brightly colored kayak is a delightful experience.
However, “blackwater” is also reflective of Peace River’s appearance. Because it meanders through wetlands and forests, the water is full of fallen (and decomposing) leaves. That means even though it’s freshwater, it looks a bit like a bunch of freshly brewed, English Breakfast tea.3
Though perhaps not as pretty as some of Florida’s cerulean springs, it’s this “blackwater” that makes Peace River a prime place for fossil hunting. Beneath these darkened waters and tucked away in the riverbanks are the remains of creatures who have ceased to roam the earth, and it’s the slow-moving current that keeps them so well-preserved.4
The fossils here are so plenteous, and you’re practically guaranteed a find one on every Peace River fossil hunting outing.
But before you start searching, here’s a few things you need to bring along. . .
Peace River Packing List
Fossil hunting along the Peace River is about as easy as it gets, but there are still a few things you need to have with you to ensure your hunting trip is successful.
The first thing you’re going to need is a permit. In Florida, it’s illegal to collect vertebrate fossils without one – but if you’re only after shells and shark teeth, you’re good to go. However, if you’re hunting for the “big game,” all you have to do is apply for your permit through the Florida Museum of Natural History.
The permit is only $5 a year and is usually ready within 2 weeks of applying!
Once the legalities have been taken care of, it’s time to get your gear.
At first, the packing might feel a bit like you’re getting ready to go to the beach as you stow away water, sunscreen, and a wide-brimmed hat. However, as you tug on a pair of wading boots, you know you’re getting ready to do some real exploring.
Be sure to wear clothes that are comfortable and okay to be drenched – some of the best fossil findings happen in the middle of the river! A trowel or small gardening shovel is good for digging at the water’s edge, but for those wading excursions, you’ll want to have a long-handled shovel, too.
Next, head to the kitchen and grab the strainer. We’re not making spaghetti – although you probably shouldn’t fossil hunt on an empty stomach! This strainer will help you sort through small detritus and dirt, leaving only the goodies behind. (Although it’s up to you to identify what’s a rock and what’s a fossil!) For serious hunters, having a screen is even better. Made of fine mesh suspended in a wooden frame, screens can be purchased online or rented from the Peace River’s Canoe Outpost.5
You should also raid the kitchen cabinet for a handful of Ziploc bags for storing your fossils. You may also want to bring some tissue paper or newspaper to wrap the specimens in, as well as a marker to label the baggies. A notebook is also a worthy investment for the intrepid fossil hunter – within its pages, you can record all the data about the find and even make some sketches!
Now it’s time to sling that backpack over your shoulders and start fossil hunting!
Finding Fossils
I suppose it’s time to come clean. You won’t find any dinosaur fossils at Peace River.
In fact, you won’t find dinosaur fossils in any part of Florida because dinosaurs didn’t live here (it’s believed Florida was probably underwater while they were roaming around).6
However, there were still some AMAZING creatures that you can find remnants of, including mastodons, megalodons, mammoths, saber-tooth cats, and giant sloths. (Yes, the cast of Ice Age are all here!)
For the best chance of finding fossils, head to Peace River when the water is low – especially in the Spring months of March, April, and May. Some favorite Peace River fossil hunting locations are around Gardner, Arcadia, Brownville, and Oak Hill Runs.
It’s possible to find vertebrae, jaws, and ribs, but due to their durability, teeth are the most common fossils you’ll find, though be careful not to throw out the mastodon and mammoth teeth thinking they’re mere rocks! Large and lumpy, their molars could be mistaken for small boulders.
Mastodons and mammoths were both elephantine creatures but had some distinct differences. Mammoths, like Manny from Ice Age, had curved tusks and grazed on grass. You’ll be able to recognize their teeth by their flat surface. On the other hand, Mastodons were shorter, stockier, with straighter tusks, and because they were wood browsers, each molar was structured with several conical points.7
When you hold a single tooth that’s bigger than your fist, it gives you a unique appreciation for the size of these wooly beasts. (Read Chonks. Absolute UNITS.)
Saber-tooth cat bones and teeth are rarer, but there have been scattered findings in the Peace River area.8 Saber-tooth cats would have been roughly the size of our Siberian Tigers, using their iconic fangs to create fatal puncture wounds in their prey.9 Talk about a grumpy cat!
An especially sought-after fossil is the tooth of a megalodon. Megalodon, literally meaning “large tooth,” was the largest shark in the world, measuring three times the length of the largest known Great White.10 The megalodon probably used its serrated teeth to chow down on other sharks, dolphins, and even whales.
These awesome chompers are fairly common, as far as fossil finds go because sharks continually produce teeth throughout their lives (up to 40,000!). The old teeth fall to the ocean floor, where they then have the chance to be fossilized.
And megalodon isn’t the only shark whose teeth you should be on the lookout for: you can also find fossilized teeth from lemon, sand tiger, snaggletooth, and bull sharks!
Other mammalian fossils include the bones of dugongs, manatees, and whales, while reptilian remains of crocodiles, alligators, and turtles can also be found.
As you hunt, keep an eye out for live alligators, too! They’re not uncommon in Peace River, so be cautious and keep a respectful distance. Slithery snakes and red-eared water turtles also inhabit these quiet waters, happily soaking up the sun on floating logs.
If the fossils weren’t enough, these scaly friends would definitely give you the Jurassic Park feels, as they really do look like living dinosaurs. And who knows? Maybe they are. After all, like Jurassic Park‘s Dr. Ian Malcolm says, “Life will find a way.”
Have you been fossil-finding along the Peace River? What did you find? Did you enjoy this article? Let us know in the comments below.
Happy hunting!
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Photo: Unsplash
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