Fossilhunting questions for white rock creek/harry s moss park
Posted by SilverBubble1@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 12 comments
Hello recently I got into fossilhunting. When I went to Big Fossil Creek up in fort worth, getting to the creek on foot was quite easy. I see there are some austin chalk formations up by Harry S Moss Park, however theres a lot of foliage blocking the trails from the actual creek. How do people get down to the creek from there? I see many photos of the creek from the park
Apprehensive-Taco406@reddit
Illegal to collect fossils in city parks in Dallas. Actually nearly all local cities have laws against collecting fossils in city parks, state parks or navigable stream beds. In Dallas there are ordinances against collecting fossils, plants, firewood and archeological artifacts.
SilverBubble1@reddit (OP)
as far as i am aware it is legal, provided you do not take an excessive amount and only take invertebrate fossils (no dinosaurs or mammals)
Apprehensive-Taco406@reddit
It's illegal. Written into city code 32. Have you tried looking around large construction projects and deep excavations around town? You would have good luck there in those spots looking for Austin Chalk fossils.
SilverBubble1@reddit (OP)
Which part of city code 32 covers white rock creek?
Apprehensive-Taco406@reddit
Look. What you want to do at Harry Moss Park and along White Rock Creek which is mostly the White Rock Creek Greenbelt Park is illegal. It's against the law. There are signs different places about harming plants, wildlife, fossils and archeology. Not sure how you don't understand that. It's illegal. Find a private construction site somewhere and the fossils will be better than a public park creek. The reason you see fossils in White Rock Creek are because others before you did not deface them and steal them. Let them sit there for the next curious person.
SilverBubble1@reddit (OP)
There are no signs of the sort I could find, and as far as state and federal laws go, there is a legal distinction between vertebrate fossils and native american artifacts on one side and invertebrate fossils on the other
Apprehensive-Taco406@reddit
There are also no signs for discharging firearms, setting things on fire, landing aircraft or building cabins. But, there are laws against it.
SilverBubble1@reddit (OP)
Precisely, no state laws or local laws on collecting invertebrates tho other than the ones i shared
Apprehensive-Taco406@reddit
You are stealing rocks with fossils in them. The act of stealing rocks is illegal. Not sure how you can't understand this. If everyone did it the public creekbed would be ruined. Don't deface or steal in parks. Go find a rock quarry or private development somewhere. There will be plentiful fossils you can legally collect.
SilverBubble1@reddit (OP)
"Stealing rocks" is not a violation of any sec 32 ordinance as you claimed earlier. Except on federal or state parks you can generally collect minerals provided you are not selling them or collecting an uneasonable amount. Since marine invertebrate fossils are abundant, it is permitted to collect them. Also going in a quarry or private development is trespassing. I dont see why you are so adamant about nonexistent laws. Do you collect fossils here and not want anyone else to?
Apprehensive-Taco406@reddit
Absolute bologna. Just like in city of Dallas parks it's illegal to collect in Texas state parks. It's illegal. Period. End of story. According to Chapter 86 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, it is one hundred percent illegal to collect fossils and rocks from the navigable waterways of Texas without a permit. https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/rules
SilverBubble1@reddit (OP)
No mentions of navigable waterways as a whole, you put that in there. It is allowed unless otherwise stated. Take BLM managed land for example you are permited under the criteria I described. City parks depends on the city park, but again no city rules against it because its not in their ordinances. And while in fort worth, i collected fossils at parks with no issues. https://www.blm.gov/programs/paleontology/collecting-fossils