Fossils and Paleontology

Wrangell-St. Elias preserves more than just the plants and animals that visitors can see today. The park is also home to the fossilized remains of many plants and animals that have lived here through time.

Dinosaurs roamed through towering forests at a time when Alaska had a milder climate. There were wet winters and warm, dry summers, similar to the present day Pacific-Northwest coastline. During the Cretaceous, the annual average temperature is estimated to have been 51° F (11°C) while today it is below freezing at 28°F (-2°C). This reflects the pattern of globally warmer climate that persisted throughout the Cretaceous geological time period, which lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago.

Learn more about fossils, dinosaur bones and tracks on the National Park Service Paleontology website.

Paleontology Articles & Reports

Prehistoric reptile one mile above McCarthy, Alaska in Wrangell-St. Elias
(online article in pdf format, 422 kb)

Natural Resource Technical Report
Paleontological Resource Inventory and Monitoring - Central Alaska Network
NPS/NRSS/NRTR—2011 (pdf, 448 kb)

Junior Paleontologist Activity Booklet:

Download the booklet (pdf format, 38 MB) at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/junior-paleontologist.htm

Note: The activity booklet is for independent use of the material for non-commercial, educational purposes only.

The Junior Paleontologist Program is a part of the National Park Service Junior Ranger Program. The goal of the Junior Ranger Program is to connect young people to their national parks through a variety of in-park activities that are designed to introduce them to the national park system and cultivate future generations of park stewards. Programs range from simple scavenger hunts for younger children, to multi-day ranger-led activities. Over 200 National Park Service areas currently have Junior Ranger programs. Learn more about NPS Junior Ranger programs.

Prehistoric Life Coloring Book

In order to tap into your scientific detective skills and encourage your creativity, we are excited to share with you the Prehistoric Life of the National Parks coloring book. The main coloring book features 40 simple line drawings of ancient animals and plants known from fossils discovered in national parks. An additional 10 bonus “web exclusive” drawings are available.

One of the fun and interesting aspects of studying fossils, known as the science of paleontology, is trying to figure out what these prehistoric animals and plants looked like when they were alive! Typically, the soft parts of ancient organisms, features such as the skin, feathers, or hair, are not preserved or fossilized. Therefore, we may not have good evidence available for determining the color or surface patterns of prehistoric life forms. Modern organisms show a wonderful diversity of coloration and external patterns, which may be considered when thinking about these features in prehistoric life. Can such patterns as stripes, spots, and other ornamentation seen today in mammals, birds, insects, and even plants, provide us clues to similar patterns seen in past organisms?

With each drawing you are able to work as a paleoartist, an artist specializing in reconstructing ancient life and the environments in which these organisms lived. The work of paleoartists can be found in museum exhibits, illustrations in books and magazines, captured on websites, and even featured in motion pictures and cartoons. The illustrations used in the Prehistoric Life of the National Parks were designed as simple drawings, to provide more opportunity for you (the paleoartist) to be creative in your work to bring these extinct life forms back to life. Good luck and have fun!

Available for Download

Prehistoric Life in the National Parks Coloring Book

• National Park Service, 2020 (58 pp.)—[PDF, 9.8 MB]

Coloring Book Credits

The Prehistoric Life in the National Parks Coloring Book is a collaborative project between the National Park Service (NPS) Paleontology Program and the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). The NPS and AGI share a vision and are committed to inspire children, of all ages, to embrace science and stewardship through their interests in dinosaurs and other prehistoric life.

• Content, Design, and Layout: Vincent L. Santucci, J.P. Hodnett, Justin Tweet, and Alison Mims
• Artwork: Studio 105 and Benji Paysnoe
• Technical Review: Arvid Aase, Robert Blodgett, Diana Boudreau, Geoffrey Camphire, Ronnie Colvin, Tim Connors, Bill DiMichele, Pat Druckenmiller, Nick Famoso, Scott Foss, Stephen Godfrey, Rebecca Hunt-Foster, Adam Marsh, Jim Mead, Herb Meyer, Bill Parker, Kari Prassack, Roy Plotnick, Don Prothero, Ed Robeck, Mariah Slovacek, Christy Visaggi, Ed Welsh, and Jeff Wolin.
• Website Development: Jim Wood

First Edition—July 15, 2020

Dedication

The Prehistoric Life in the National Parks Coloring Book is dedicated to Georgia Hybels, a National Park Service geographer who shared her time to foster children’s interests in fossils, caves and national parks.

Celebrate Our Geologic Heritage

National Fossil Day! Join paleontologists, educators, and students in fossil-related events and activities across the country in parks, classrooms, and online during National Fossil Day, an annual celebration in October held to highlight the scientific and educational value of paleontology and the importance of preserving fossils for future generations.