| A paleontology enthusiast excavates a camel metapodial (one of the foot bones) in the late Middle Miocene Dove Spring Formation in the El Paso Mountains; this photograph was taken several years ago in a badlands district that at that date existed on Public Lands, well outside the boundaries of Red Rock Canyon State Park. Today, this specific fossil locality lies within the expanded borders of Red Rock Canyon State Park, where fossil collecting of any kind is not allowed, except by special permit issued by the California State Parks authorities solely to trained, qualifified scientists with a degree from an accredited university. |