Fannin County, Texas -- Recent record-setting rains in Fannin County have made even the smallest ditches candidates for fossil hunting. Weeklong events October 14th through October 20th will help residents get started as locals, students, visiting scientists, fossil hunters and enthusiasts gather here during National Earth Science Week. At the end of the four days of learning opportunities, participants will understand types of fossils to be found around the county, may see displays of rare and unusual fossils from the Cretaceous and Pleistocene Periods, and join in exploration for the same at North Sulphur River.
This year marks the eighth year for a local observance. In 2011, the local Bois d' Arc Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist teamed with the Dallas Paleontological Society, the Ladonia Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ladonia to become sanctioned by the National Park Service and become a sponsoring participant in National Fossil Day. That day has morphed into National Earth Science Week led by the American Geosciences Institute. Other organizations contributing to the 2018 observance include the Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist, and the Ladonia Volunteer Fire Department.
On Tuesday, October 16, the Bois d’ Arc Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist will begin the week of activities as one of its own, P K Kirkpatrick, presents a program at the Agrilife Center in Bonham on Finding Fossils in Fannin County. The program begins at 6:00 p.m. and is open to the public. Location is the Derrell Hall Education Center at 2505 N. Center St. in Bonham. P K and husband David are both Master Naturalists and are frequent volunteers at Bonham State Park and Ladonia Fossil Park.
The Dallas Paleontological Society returns to Fannin County Schools on Thursday, October 18, in Bonham and Friday, October 19, in Honey Grove with classroom appearances by Mick Tune and other DPS volunteers.
On Saturday, October 20, the focus moves to Fannindel High School Cafeteria, Ladonia, for a workshop starting at 10 am. Doors open and registration begins at 8:00 am with fossil identification table, local fossil displays, and special collectors tables.
Fossil collector PK Kirkpatrick, collector in NSR for more than 25 years will address safety issues for hunting at the Park and share information on what to look for and how to have a great hunt at the North Sulphur River Canyon, located a couple of miles north of Ladonia.
Special guest speaker for the workshop is Mick Tune, a member of Dallas Paleontological Society, an author of the guidebook Wildering: Anyone’s Guide to Enjoying the American Wilderness that includes exploration stories of the North Sulphur River Canyon fossil beds. Topic of his talk is “The Big Picture of NSR Paleontology for an Amateur Like Me.” The North Sulphur River in southeast Fannin County is noted for Cretaceous Period marine megafossils such as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs and for Ice Age fossils such as mammoths and mastodons.
Volunteers from Dallas Paleontological Society Bois d' Arc Chapter. Master Naturalist will be present to identify and assist at the symposium and park. Mick Tune of DPS will lead identifying finds and offering information about what is found.
Special sales will be made of the DPS book, Fossil Collector’s Guidebook to the North Sulphur River. The book is a reference guide to fossil identification for fossils from the NSR in Fannin, Delta, and Lamar Counties of Texas. Also, Mick Tune will be giving autographs of his book. Shirts, cups, and patches will be on sale, and food concessions will be available from members at the Ladonia Volunteer Fire Department tent at the Park.
Chairperson of the Ladonia Fossil Park event, PK Kirkpatrick tells participants, “While workshops and explorations of this caliber are usually with significant fee, these National Fossil Day events are free, thanks to a number of volunteers from our sponsoring organizations!”
In event of heavy rainfall, the river excursions will be postponed. PK Kirkpatrick said those going on the excursion need to pack water, wear close-toed shoes or mud boots or mud wading shoes if there has been rain within the past week. Also, those with arthritic knees, ankles, backs, and mobility problems may want to stay topside at the park and not enter the river bed because of steepness and height of steps at the park.
Ladonia Fossil Park is located two miles north of Ladonia on Highway 34. Ladonia is located about 75 miles northeast of Dallas, midway between Greenville and Paris and is accessible by highway 34.
For more information on the event or directions, call 903-456-2687.