Hobbies And Interests
Fossil Types
Many types of fossils can be found in Alabama. They range from the small trilobites and invertebrates to plants and even large dinosaur fossils. You can also find the state fossil, the basilosaurus cetoides, which is the fossil of an ancient toothed whale.
Collecting Regulations
Alabama allows collectors to take home fossils found in the state. There are, however, provisions to hunting and finding. For instance, since most of the state is comprised of privately owned property, a collector must obtain permission from the land owner to search for fossils, and then while searching, collectors may not retrieve artifacts of human remains from below the surface or from inside caves, though arrow heads found on the surface may be kept. Also, collectors are allowed to collect the state fossil and take it out of state only if they get a signed permission form from the governor.
Collecting Data
Almost more important than the fossil is the environment in which it is found. Information about a site of a find, such as the specific outcropping and the rock form in which the fossil was found, are vital to understanding the fossil itself. Along with site information your fossil-finding notebook should contain a photo of the fossil with its identification. Each fossil, or at least the container you put it in, should be marked with the finder's initials, the date, and a number or letter to identify the fossil by. This information should then coordinate with your notebook.
Preserving the Site
Because fossil collection outcrops are made available to the public and are used often, it is important to preserve the area by not damaging fossils that are lying on the ground, not taking more than a few specimens from any particular outcrop and not damaging the outcrop itself. Collectors are to check with the local natural science museums or university geology departments to be sure that an outcrop is not being used for research before going to search for fossils.
Collecting Safety
Fossil hunting has its perils in the rural areas of Alabama. These perils include snakes and poison ivy as well as the heat of a southern summer. Fossil collectors should keep a close eye out for poisonous snakes and ivy, and if bitten by a poisonous snake, they should go to the hospital with a description or photo of the snake or the dead snake. To avoid overheating, it is recommended that fossil hunters wear light-colored, breathable clothing and stay hydrated. It is also recommended that if a group contains children, it also should have the appropriate number of chaperons to supervise those children.
Paleontological Societies
There are two paleontological societies in Alabama, the Alabama Paleontological Society and the Paleontological Society of Birmingham, both of which have programs such as field trips to local sites for children.