Ancient animal footprints discovered at John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon

Scientists have made groundbreaking paleontological discoveries at Oregon’s John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, shedding light on ancient ecosystems and behaviors of extinct animals dating back 50 million years. Fossilized tracks found in the monument, including those of birds, lizards, a cat-like predator, and a tapir or rhinoceros ancestor, offer insights into how these creatures once lived. Researchers used advanced 3D imaging techniques to analyze the tracks, which provide valuable behavioral context to the existing body fossil record in the region. These trace fossils reveal the daily activities of long-extinct animals and help scientists understand the climate and environmental conditions of prehistoric Oregon. The discovery of these tracks, particularly those of birds and lizards, adds to our knowledge of the monument’s history and evolution. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, located in east-central Oregon, protects a significant fossil record from the Cenozoic Era and offers visitors the opportunity to learn about millions of years of geologic and evolutionary history. The Thomas Condon Paleontology and Visitor Center within the monument houses a collection of fossil specimens and provides a research laboratory that is accessible to the public.