Get connected to Florida’s natural history in a hands-on way by going fossil hunting! Florida’s river system and history of changing sea levels make it the perfect place to find both land and sea animal fossils! Read to learn more about where you can find fossils and the rules you need to know before you go! Happy Fossil Hunting!
Florida has fossils?
Yes! In addition to the shark teeth found on some of the state’s beautiful beaches, teeth and other fossils are also found throughout the state. Florida has lots of rivers that cover dead organisms in sediment, allowing them to be fossilized very well.
What will I find?
Due to the sea level rising and falling multiple times in Florida’s history, fossils of both land and sea animals can be found in our state. Some animal fossils that have been found in Florida are:
- Mastodons
- Mammoths
- Giant armadillos
- Giant sloths
- Saber-tooth cats
- Whales
- Manatees
- and more!
The most common fossils to find in Florida are the many kinds of shark teeth.
Know the rules
In Florida, it is illegal to remove vertebrate fossils (except for shark teeth) from lands owned or leased by the state. State lands include the bottoms of navigable waterways like rivers, lakes and some streams.
Many other types of lands (national parks, city and county properties, etc.) also have restrictions on fossil collecting. On privately-owned land, you must have permission from the landowner to collect fossils. Even with permission, some restrictions may apply – always do your research for regulations before you begin your fossil hunt!
You do not need a permit to collect shark teeth, plant fossils, and fossils of invertebrate animals (mollusks, sea urchins, crabs, etc.).
If you are interested in looking for vertebrate fossils, consider getting a fossil permit from the Florida Museum of Natural History!
Where to go
Fossils can be found almost all over Florida, but there are certainly hotspots. Some of the most popular places to look for fossils are:
- Southwest Florida Beaches like Venice Beach and Manasota Key Beach
- The Peace River near Arcadia
- The “Bone Valley,” a region of the state within Polk, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Hardee counties where there are large deposits of phosphate
- Jacksonville Beach and Amelia Island beaches
Join a club
Still don’t know where to start? Or do you want to make fossil hunting a social activity? Look to join a fossil club near you! Fossil clubs take trips to fossil hunting sites and can help beginners learn how to look for fossils hands-on! A list of fossil clubs can be found on myFOSSIL.org.
Get more involved
Want to get involved with fossils beyond looking for shark teeth or fossil hunting as hobby? Consider volunteering at a dig site!
For example, the Montbrook Site in Williston uses volunteer assistance to uncover fossils that are believed to be 5 to 5.5 million years old!
Information from the Florida Museum, myFOSSIL.org, the Museum of Art and Sciences, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Play Hard Florida, and Paleo Discoveries.