TIL a hiker in the Grand Canyon tried to take a 'cool rock' from a marked fossil bed

I was on a trail near the Bright Angel shale layer last year when I saw a guy trying to pry out a small trilobite fossil with his pocket knife. I told him that area was protected and taking anything is a federal crime, which can mean a huge fine (like up to $10,000, you know). He just shrugged and said 'it's just one little rock, who's gonna know?' but he did put it back after I pointed to the posted signs. Has anyone else had to stop someone from messing with a protected geologic site?

2 comments

2 Comments

henrybaker3d ago

Ugh, that's so frustrating. I saw a lady stacking rocks into a little tower right on a petrified wood log at Petrified Forest, like it was her own art project. Did you have to get a ranger involved or did they just listen after you pointed it out? I ended up basically blocking the log until she stopped, it was so awkward.

jamieburns2d ago

My buddy had to do that too, @henrybaker.