The high school Earth Science classes toured Ashfall Fossil Beds on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. Their tour was guided by Ashfall Fossil Beds Educator, Daniel George. Students learned that the ancient climate in Nebraska was similar to today’s savanna in Africa and temperatures didn’t drop below freezing. Barrel-bodied rhinos, saber-toothed deer, giraffe camels, and horned rodents were a few of the animal species that lived at the site 12 million years ago. Ashfall is world-renowned because the fossils are preserved “in situ” (where they are found). The students said they didn’t know rhinos once roamed Nebraska, saw that babies died near their mothers, the animals didn’t suffocate immediately, and liked learning about the bear dogs. Three skeletons have been uncovered since last year’s tour. A park guest commented that the class was a really nice group. A park employee shared that the students were well behaved, as usual.
(Betty Bower)