Dinosaur Tracks

[sparker1]

Dinosaur Tracks Discovered in Utah
From Associated Press
November 29, 2007 10:17 PM EST

KANAB, Utah - Tracks from half a dozen species of dinosaurs turned up in a southern Utah area popular with ATV riders. An area the size of a football field was closed to protect thousands of three-toed and other tracks, according to the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the property about 5 miles southwest of Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Kane County.

"Some people knew the tracks were out there, but we didn't," BLM spokesman Larry Crutchfield told The Salt Lake Tribune for a story posted online Thursday. "But most people didn't even know they were riding over dinosaur tracks."

The tracks were laid down across dozens of layers of rock, revealing a geologic record like the pages from a book.

They include tracks of a sharp-toothed and clawed carnivore, a three-toed crocodile and a large plant-eating species.

BLM paleontologist Alan Titus said the latest track find is extraordinary for its accessibility and high concentration of footprints.

"A local ATV rider told me about the site and I had planned to go see them," Titus said. "But when I saw a picture of the site, I had to get out there. I had no idea there were so many."

Southern Utah is known for dinosaur fossils and tracks from the Jurassic period. These animals lived about 190 million years ago in a harsh desert that got intermittent deluges.

"You rarely find herbivores in a desert," said Martin Lockley, who heads the Dinosaur Tracks Museum at the University of Colorado at Denver.

The prints in the sandstone are at least 100 million older than the fossils being extracted in neighboring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, said paleontologist Andrew Milner, curator at the Johnson Farm track site in nearby St. George.

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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com

[JP]

Anyone here have pics of this area?

[Iceaxe]

Dang... this is right in Tanya's backyard.

[JP]

She should head out and get some pics Where is she

[chickenlicken]

Now they'll close the nearby trails to atv's.

[Brewhaha]

At the very least this will be yet another headline for SUWA:

"ATV Riders Show Little Regard for Ancient Treasures"

Also "ATV Riders Worship Satan" ;-)

[Gutpiler_Utahn]

"ATV Riders Worship Satan" ;-)

You mean that's not true?

[Iceaxe]

Also "ATV Riders Worship Satan" ;-)

[fouristhenewone]

c'mon - they don't worship, they just consort!

[tanya]

She should head out and get some pics Where is she

Pulling the cactus out of my feet from yesteday.

[JP]

Pulling the cactus out of my feet from yesteday.

How are they feeling Did that happen while you were looking for dinosaur tracks

[tanya]

Pulling the cactus out of my feet from yesteday.

How are they feeling Did that happen while you were looking for dinosaur tracks

Nope.... we were exploring a new wash/canyon area on the east side of Zion. Bo dubbed it... Separation Canyon. It's quite pretty.

I do need to get out and find those dino tracks though!

[JP]

Separation Canyon. It's quite pretty.

Pics

[tanya]

I am actually working on those.

[JP]

Can't wait to see them

[COUNTRYBOY]

Took the family the dunes couple of month ago, wish I knew those where there. It would have made a great end to the day.
I'll have to cruise over there after things slow down at work.

[tanya]

If you find out where they are ... let us know.

[tanya]

This might be a good project for this weekend!

[Win]

I was thinking the same thing this morning. Tanya, have your brother give Don Black a call, I'm pretty sure the club was out there recently. I was going to Email Don and see if he can send me directions.

Happy Holidays,
Win

[tanya]

If you get them maybe we can go together. I bet Bo would like to go as well.