Amazing! Three Kids Discover T-Rex Fossil In North Dakota

🦖 Three young explorers stumble upon a once-in-a-lifetime find in North Dakota that’s taking the paleontology world by storm! 🌄 #NorthDakotaNews #KidsAndFamilies #Dinosaurs

MARMARTH, ND – In a stunning turn of events, a family hiking trip near the town of Marmarth in the North Dakota badlands has led to the unearthing of an extremely rare juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex fossil.

The momentous find, made by brothers Jessin and Liam Fisher, along with their cousin Kaiden Madsen, is now set to be the centerpiece of a new exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

The fossil finding family (clockwise from upper left: Sam Fisher, Emalynn Fisher, Danielle Fisher, Liam Fisher, Kaiden Madsen, and Jessin Fisher) pose with the field jacket after it was rolled into a helicopter net. Credit: Dr. Tyler R. Lyson

🦖 An Unexpected Encounter with a Prehistoric Giant

The trio of young explorers, accompanied by Jessin and Liam’s father Sam Fisher, stumbled upon the T. rex remains in July 2022 while hiking on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The fossil was entombed in the Hell Creek Formation, a well-known geological formation spanning parts of Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas that has yielded some of the most well-preserved T. rex fossils ever discovered.

Initially mistaking the protruding bone for a common fossil fragment, they soon realized the significance of their discovery when paleontologist Tyler Lyson confirmed it was a diagnostic tyrannosaurus jaw with teeth.

The juvenile T. rex, affectionately named “The Brothers” by its discoverers, is estimated to have been around 13-15 years old at the time of its death some 67 million years ago. Based on the size of its tibia, experts believe the dinosaur weighed approximately 3,500 pounds – about two-thirds the size of a fully grown adult.

Dr. Tyler Lyson, lead scientist of the project, and the trio of young fossil finders, Liam Fisher, Jessin Fisher, and Kaiden Madsen who discovered the remains of a juvenile T. rex skeleton while out looking for fossils with their dad Sam Fisher. Credit: Dr. Kirk Johnson

🔬 Bringing the Past to Life at the Denver Museum

Starting June 21, visitors to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science will have the unique opportunity to witness the painstaking process of chipping away the rock encasing the T. rex fossil at the “Discovering Teen Rex” exhibit. The museum estimates the preparation work will take about a year to complete.

Curator of Paleontology Tyler Lyson emphasized the rarity of the find, noting that while over 100 individual T. rex fossils have been discovered, many are fragmented. The completeness of “The Brothers” specimen remains to be seen, but the team has already identified a leg, hip, pelvis, tailbones, and a significant portion of the skull.

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🎥 A Fossil Find Fit for the Silver Screen

The incredible story of the juvenile T. rex discovery has been immortalized in the documentary “T.REX,” set to premiere alongside the exhibit’s opening. Narrated by Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill, the film captures the electric atmosphere surrounding the fossil’s excavation and transport from the North Dakota badlands to the Denver Museum.

With state-of-the-art CGI and the latest paleontological insights, “T.REX” promises to take viewers on an unprecedented journey into the world of the Cretaceous period’s most famous predator and its contemporaries.

*Lead scientist, Dr. Tyler Lyson, and fossil finders Kaiden Madsen (left) and Jessin Fisher (right) after discovering the fossil belonged to a juvenile T. rex. Credit: Natalie Toth*

🌄 Inspiring the Next Generation of Explorers

For aspiring paleontologist Jessin Fisher, the experience has only fueled his passion for fossil hunting. His advice to other kids? “Just put down their electronics and go out hiking.” Sounds like wise words to us!

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science hopes the “Discovering Teen Rex” exhibit will inspire a new generation of junior explorers and scientists to embrace the thrill of discovery and deepen our understanding of the natural world.

The museum acknowledges the support of presenting sponsor Chevron, the Genesee Mountain Foundation, and the Bureau of Land Management in making this exhibit possible. As work continues on preparing the teen T. rex fossil for display, one thing is certain: this remarkable find from the North Dakota badlands is set to captivate the imagination of dinosaur enthusiasts around the globe.