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Aenigmastacus crandalli (the newest genus of crayfish) |
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Email: Mcabeefossilbeds@hotmail.ca |
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Scientific Policy |
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September and October are our off-season months. If you wish to visit us during this time, you need to book a time via the email address on our pages. We can not guarantee a guide will be on the hill if you drop by. Our hours of operation are from 09:00 to 15:00. There have been several significant finds made at McAbee thanks to the generosity of the claim owners, Dave and Robert. Together they have donated hundreds of specimens. Many of those have become type specimens and many more have not been studied yet. Currently, there are 13 new insect species holotypes, a new genus and crayfish holotype, 11 plant species and one genus holotypes from the site with the promise of more to come as many donated specimens have not yet been studied. A significant find is evidence of an animal or plant not yet been seen before or the first time it has been found at that particular site. And since our site has not yet been really studied, it has the possibility to become a very significant site. This is a double-edge sword. As we turn more and more specimens over to the scienctific community to study, there are some calling for us to be closed to the public. This means that for us to remain open for the non-professional to experience the thrill of finding your own fossil, we need to manage the resource very carefully. That is why we are asking you for your help. We have to manage our resource more closely. This year we are requesting that visitors stay to the one bag limit. This is a request from the scientific community and government to help extend the life of the natural resource. Of course, if you collect more than can fit into your bag, we will be happy to make sure you leave with your best finds. We are also required to look at your finds to make sure a potentially scientifically significant specimen inadvertently leaves the hill. We record all pertinent information from the finder and donate the specimen on the finder's behalf. Last year we saw only the second specimen of a new flower and a potentially new bee by two customers. The reward is the potential to have something named after you. Both claim owners and the guide have specimens from the hill named after them. Several scientists who are studying the material from our site have had specimens named after them to honour the work they have done at the site. You could be the next honouree. |
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The
McAbee Fossil Beds |
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