FOSSIL HUNTING 101

Several million years ago, Florida wasn’t the peninsula we know today, it was more like a small island. As sea levels rose and fell with Earth’s climate cycles, the ocean receded and Florida emerged. Many marine and land animals that once thrived here left behind fossilized evidence, now waiting to be discovered in places like the Peace River and other fossil-rich regions of the state.

Fossils found in Florida are classified by age in epochs, the more commonly found fossil span over these three epochs:

      •    Miocene Epoch: 23.7 – 5.3 million years ago

    •    Pliocene Epoch: 5.3 – 1.8 million years ago

               •    Pleistocene Epoch: 1.8 million – 10,000 years ago

While fossils can sometimes be found on land or along riverbanks, the real treasures often lie hidden beneath the water. On your adventure, you’ll be equipped with sanitized gear (shovel/scoop, sifter, and collection apron) and given a brief tutorial on how to dig, sift, and identify your finds.

After that, it’s off to the races to uncover your own Florida prehistoric treasures!

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The 5 "W's" of Fossil Hunting

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 WHO:   Fossil hunting is for everyone! We’ve welcomed adventurers as young as 2 and as seasoned as 80, from all walks of life and from all over the world. Many tell us they’re hooked after their first trip. Plus, kids under 12 receive a special “Fossil Hunter” certificate to commemorate their experience.

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WHAT:  

Our fossil hunts have uncovered an incredible variety of prehistoric remains from both marine and land animals, including:

🦈 Sharks • 🐘 Mammoths & Mastodons • 🐴 Horses & Tapirs • 🐊 Alligators • 🐢 Turtles • 🐬 Dolphins & Whales • 🦥 Sloths • 🦌 Deer & Camels • 🐚 Shells, Agatized Coral, Sand Dollars, Bryozoans, and more. The only fossils you won’t find here are dinosaurs, and that's because Florida was underwater during the entire Mesozoic Era,  the age of dinosaurs. 

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WHERE:  In Florida, we explore the Peace River and its tributaries (by kayak or on foot) and the Venice area beaches, where you can hunt without a kayak. We also travel to fossil-rich locations across the U.S. For the best finds, we recommend our Paddle, Dig & Sift events, which give you access to prime fossil grounds away from heavily picked-over public areas.

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WHEN:  Fossil hunting on the Peace River is best when water levels are about 12 inches below normal, which is usually late winter through spring. Since water levels depend entirely on rainfall, conditions can vary. At the tributaries, water is typically shallow and easy to navigate, while at the beach, you can wade, dig and/or snorkel. We constantly monitor water levels, weather, tides, and marine forecasts to ensure safe and productive conditions for your trip.

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WHY: Because it’s fun, exciting, and yes—addicting! We guarantee you won’t stop at just one shark tooth. Once you start finding treasures, you’ll want to keep hunting for more.

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Fossil Hunting & Permits

H2O Adventures & More LLC complies with Florida Statute 1004.5, which protects vertebrate fossils and paleontological sites.

You may freely collect shark teeth, plants, and invertebrate fossils without a permit. However, we strongly encourage all guests to obtain their own Florida Fossil Permit ($5 annually). To make it easy, just click the button below to connect to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s page, where you can print, complete, and mail your application.

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