Next time the kids resist going outdoors and prefer their electronic devices, share with them the interesting dinosaur discovery made by the Fisher brothers and their cousin through outdoor exploration.
Jessin Fisher,12, his brother Liam,9, and their cousin, Kaiden Madsen,11, stumbled upon a rare juvenile T. rex fossil in the Badlands of North Dakota. The discovery is showcased at the new exhibition “Discovering Teen Rex” at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The kids are also featured in a documentary called “T. Rex,” being screened at various museums, including the Field Museum in Chicago. Watch this video of the Teen Rex discovery process.
“My friends didn’t believe me. They will have to believe me now,” said Liam Fisher, in Denver for the documentary premiere and exhibit opening in June.
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“Teen Rex” was likely 14 to 16 years old when it roamed the Earth about 67 million years ago. It is one of the few juvenile T. rex fossils ever found and one of the most complete, according to Dr. Tyler Lyson, paleontology curator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. This teenage specimen provides valuable insights into the growth and development of these giant predators during their rapid growth phase.
The discovery is expected to inspire young enthusiasts to pursue their interests regardless of age, as emphasized by museum scientists. “Kids should put down their devices and go hiking,” suggested Jessin Fisher, aspiring paleontologist. “This is so cool.”
Dr. Lyson, with 30 years of experience studying the Hell Creek dinosaur ecosystem, revealed that Teen Rex measured about 25 feet in length and weighed around 3,500 pounds. An adult T. Rex could grow up to 40 feet long and weigh up to 8,000 pounds.
Dinosaur enthusiasts can explore numerous exhibits nationwide and access digital resources from museums. For instance, the Field Museum houses Sue, the largest and most complete T. Rex fossil ever discovered. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis offers five immersive dinosaur exhibits, including an art lab for creative dinosaur experiences. The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, boasts an extensive collection of North American dinosaurs, featuring a mounted T-rex skeleton and various dinosaur artifacts. The American Museum of Natural History in New York City showcases a vast collection of dinosaur fossils, including the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex exhibited for over a century. The Smithsonian Natural History Museum’s David H. Koch Hall of Fossils-Deep Time in Washington, D.C., explores human impacts on Earth’s climate changes. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia displays the first mounted dinosaur skeleton dating back to 1868 and over 30 dinosaur species. Visit OnlyDinosaurs.com for the top dinosaur exhibits in the U.S.
At the Denver Museum, visitors can observe scientists working in a new prep lab, uncovering the fossil from a large plaster jacket that transported it to the museum. Witness the meticulous process of fossil extraction and analysis, interacting with the scientists at work.
As new bones are revealed, they will be displayed on a large poster of the Teen Rex’s skeleton.
“It’s not like what you see in movies,” explained Natalie Toth, the museum’s chief fossil preparator, as she watched the boys delicately clean the fossil. This process will take a year, with visitors witnessing ongoing discoveries each time they return. “It’s truly amazing,” added Dr. Lyson.
“Dinosaurs serve as a great introduction to science for kids,” Toth noted.
The Fisher boys, led by their dad Sam Fisher, are enthusiastic explorers who enjoy hiking and hunting for dinosaur fossils. Just a few miles from their home in Marmarth, North Dakota, near the border with Montana, they discovered what turned out to be Teen Rex’s shin bone on a July day two years ago with their cousin, Kaiden Madsen.
“I initially thought it was a horse or a cow,” recalled Liam. However, his brother Jessin recognized it as a dinosaur. They found a couple of teeth, which was exciting. “But I never expected it to be such a significant discovery,” he remarked. The Hell Creek Formation in the area dates back 66 to 68 million years and has yielded numerous T-rex fossils.
Sam Fisher’s high school connection with Dr. Lyson played a crucial role, as he mentored the young boys and guided them through the process. Initially, the find was mistaken for a common duck-billed dinosaur. However, with the excavation permit secured and the fossil excavated over 11 days using a Black Hawk helicopter, the museum team realized the find’s significance.
“I was speechless,” said Liam Fisher.
Jessin Fisher finds it intriguing that Teen Rex was close to his age and holds immense educational value for scientists. “It’s captivating,” he expressed. “I never outgrew dinosaurs.”
Sam Fisher added, “We will continue exploring…who knows, maybe we’ll discover another one.”
(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers authored by Eileen.)
