Why should we create National Parks instead of just putting fossils in museums?
Many natural processes are constantly eroding rocks and exposing buried fossils. This erosion may be physical like rain, running streams streams, the seasonal freezing and thawing of rocks, or wind. Although erosion is critical for the exposure of fossils, it can also eventually cause their destruction. The Park Service monitors the areas containing fossils to minimize their loss or destruction. Anthropogenic (human) activities can also threaten fossils. Not all types of rocks are hard enough to withstand the impact of hiking. Many types of rocks that contain fossils easily break under the weight of footsteps. Park visitors who have left designated hiking trails may inadvertently damage fossils and increase erosion in fossiliferous areas. Occasionally, people have even intentionally vandalized the fossils. Fossils that are preserved in national parks cannot be taken for private use. To collect fossils from a park, a paleontologist requires a permit from the park. Fossils collected from
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