Reward Offered To Find Vandals Who Damaged Dinosaur Fossil

DINOSAUR, Colo. (CBS4) – A reward is being offered to find who is responsible for damaging fossil fragments along Fossil Discovery Trail near the town of Dinosaur.

According to Dan Johnson with the Dinosaur National Monument, the fossil damage was found on Sept. 2.

"A park ranger leading a guided walk discovered damage to a fossilized humorous bone from a sauropod dinosaur located along the trail. The damage was not evident the previous day," Johnson said in a statement.

Anyone with information about the damage is asked to contact the monument at (435) 781-7715. A $750 reward will be provided for information that leads to a conviction.

Additional Information From The Dinosaur National Monument

The Fossil Discovery Trail is a 1.2 mile trail that runs between the Quarry Visitor Center and the Quarry Exhibit Hall where the famous wall of dinosaur bones is located. The trail is unique as it is one of the few places where visitors can hike to see and touch unexcavated dinosaur fossils and fragments in situ; or still in place. It allows visitors to experience what it may have been like for paleontologist Earl Douglass when he discovered the first fossils in what is now the monument. While the fossils have limited scientific value, they have a great value for the educational experience they provide to visitors and students who hike the trail.

Visitors are reminded that all fossils, rocks, plants, animals and cultural artifacts located within Dinosaur National Monument are protected and may not be collected.