Search for bones and teeth of ancient mammoths, mastodons,
camels, sloths, horses, tortoises, jaguars, saber-toothed cats,
capybaras, tapirs, giant armadillos, whales, dolphins and sharks.
TRIP ONE: Fossil Expedition - Peace River or Creek Sites. We search for mammal, reptile and shark fossils. Relatively easy access to sites without strenuous hiking. $75 for adults/$65 for 12 & under. School/scout group rates lower for 10 or more (please e-mail us).
TRIP TWO: Megalodon Expedition - Peace River or Creek Sites. We're chiefly looking for teeth of C. megalodon and other sharks. Relatively easy access to sites without strenuous hiking. Occasionally this trip will be a combination of One & Two, if the sites contain both types of fossils. $75 for adults/$65 for 12 & under. School/scout group rates lower for 10 or more (please e-mail us).
TRIP THREE: Outback Kayak Expedition. We search for mammal, reptile and shark fossils. Kayak to more remote sites along the Peace River or other waterways. The aim is to find more remote sites. While there is no guarantee we will find more fossils than with Trips One or Two, we do guarantee it will be an adventure. $100 each for all ages. Younger than 7 not recommended. School/scout rates not available for this trip.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THREE TRIPS
Although we work many vertebrate sites, some of our favorites are the Peace River between Arcadia and Wauchula (DeSoto, Hardee and Polk counties), located 60 to 90 minutes north of Fort Myers. We meet at 9:30 or 10 a.m., at the Burger King restaurant in Arcadia or Wauchula, depending on which site we're going to and you're staying. We'll give you precise directions when you reserve your trip.
We screen-wash (although you are welcome to snorkel if the water is clear that day) in shallow water and look for a wide variety of species of sharks teeth, as well as bones and teeth from mammoths, sloths, camels, bison, horses, giant armadillos, turtles, dolphins, rays, alligators and whales. Realistically, the larger fossils (entire mammoth teeth and leg bones, or five inch shark teeth) are a rarity. It's more common to find fragments of mammoth teeth, entire horse teeth, or smaller shark teeth (1/2" to 1" on average; occasionally 2 inches).
We only do seining or snorkeling trips; no diving. Participants can keep what they find, unless they come up with something new to science. Then we ask that you donate it to the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. (See http://www.fossilexpeditions.com or
http://www.megalodonexpeditions.com for photos.) As for permits, you do not need one if you are with us. We have a group permit that covers you.
As guides, we show people where to look, how to look, and how to preserve their finds for another million years. To prepare, you might consider purchasing one of the books we authored: "MEGALODON: Hunting the Hunter", "FOSSILING IN FLORIDA", or "Giants in the Storm". A signed copy can be purchased from us (Click here) , or you can buy an unsigned copy from Amazon.
Our price for Trips 1 & 2 as of Febuary 1, 2006, is $75 for adults and $65 for a child 12 or under. Trip 3 (Outback) is $100 for any age. Younger than 7 not recommended. (If you booked before the price change, the old price will be honored.) Educational group rates for 10 or more are available for Trps 1 & 2, but not the Outback trip.) We would appreciate it if you would make reservations as soon as you know your schedule. We ask for a credit card number to hold your reservation. We process Visa and Master Card. It would help us if you would give us more than one day in which you're available. Once you book your trip with us, we cannot offer you a refund. However, we will gladly reschedule your trip as long as we have the alternative date you request available. If an impending storm forces us to cancel, we will offer a refund.
We suggest you wear old tennis shoes that can get wet, shorts, extra dry clothes for later, a hat, sunscreen, lunch and drinks in a small cooler. Also, we recommend everyone wear socks that can get wet with the shoes. They're much more comfortable if you get sand in your shoes. We don't recommend sandals. Screens and shovels are provided by us.
Please give us a call at 239-368-3252 or e-mail us at fossilx@earthlink.net if you have other questions.
We are guided by an appreciation for the professional paleontologist and
also for the laws that regulate fossil hunting. For information on how
to obtain a permit, click here . Our group permit will cover you on our trips.