Last dinosaur before mass extinction discovered

A team of scientists has discovered the youngest dinosaur preserved in the fossil record before the catastrophic meteor impact 65 million years ago. The finding indicates that dinosaurs did not go extinct prior to the impact and provides further evidence as to whether the impact was in fact the cause of their extinction.

Researchers from Yale University discovered the fossilized horn of a ceratopsian – likely a Triceratops, which are common to the area – in the Hell Creek formation in Montana last year. They found the fossil buried just five inches below the K-T boundary, the geological layer that marks the transition from the Cretaceous period to the Tertiary period at the time of the mass extinction that took place 65 million years ago.

Since the impact hypothesis for the demise of the dinosaurs was first proposed more than 30 years ago, many scientists have come to believe the meteor caused the mass extinction and wiped out the dinosaurs, but a sticking point has been an apparent lack of fossils buried within the 10 feet of rock below the K-T boundary. The seeming anomaly has come to be known as the "three-meter gap." Until now, this gap has caused some paleontologists to question whether the non-avian dinosaurs of the era – which included Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Torosaurus and the duckbilled dinosaurs – gradually went extinct sometime before the meteor struck. (Avian dinosaurs survived the impact, and eventually gave rise to modern-day birds.)

"This discovery suggests the three-meter gap doesn't exist," said Yale graduate student Tyler Lyson, director of the Marmarth Research Foundation and lead author of the study, published online July 12 in the journal Biology Letters. "The fact that this specimen was so close to the boundary indicates that at least some dinosaurs were doing fine right up until the impact."

While the team can't determine the exact age of the dinosaur, Lyson said it likely lived tens of thousands to just a few thousand years before the impact. "This discovery provides some evidence that dinosaurs didn't slowly die out before the meteor struck," he said.

Eric Sargis, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, and graduate student Stephen Chester discovered the ceratopsian last year while searching for fossilized mammals that evolved after the meteor impact. At first, Lyson said, the team thought it was buried within about three feet of the K-T boundary, but were surprised to learn just how close to the boundary – and hence, how close in time to the impact – it was. They sent soil samples to a laboratory to determine the exact location of the boundary, which is marked by the relative abundance of certain types of fossilized pollen and other geological indicators but is difficult to determine visually while in the field.


Because the dinosaur was buried in a mudstone floodplain, the team knew it hadn't been re-deposited from older sediments, which can sometimes happen when fossils are found in riverbeds that may have eroded and re-distributed material over time.

The team is now examining other fossil specimens that appear to be buried close to the K-T boundary and expect to find more, Lyson said. He suspects that other fossils discovered in the past may have been closer to the boundary than originally thought and that the so-called three-meter gap never existed.

"We should be able to verify that using the more sophisticated soil analysis technique rather than estimating the boundary's location based solely on a visual examination of the rock formations while in the field, which is what has typically been done in the past," Lyson said.

http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/07/last-dinosaur-before-mass-extinction.html

Tails stolen from Montana horses

THREE FORKS, Mont. - Authorities in Montana said at least two horse owners have called police to report the theft of hair from their animals. The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office said Sandy O'Rourke of Three Forks called Oct. 17 and reported someone had taken the tails off two of her horses and cut part of the mane from a third, The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported Thursday. The theft came a month after Bob and Connie Riley of Dillon reported the theft of the hair from their horse's tail, investigators said. The horse owners said their animals were not injured, but they are inconvenienced as they rely on their tails to swat at flies. "It takes about four to five years for the tail to grow back," Bob Riley said.

Tails stolen from Montana horses

THREE FORKS, Mont. - Authorities in Montana said at least two horse owners have called police to report the theft of hair from their animals. The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office said Sandy O'Rourke of Three Forks called Oct. 17 and reported someone had taken the tails off two of her horses and cut part of the mane from a third, The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported Thursday. The theft came a month after Bob and Connie Riley of Dillon reported the theft of the hair from their horse's tail, investigators said. The horse owners said their animals were not injured, but they are inconvenienced as they rely on their tails to swat at flies. "It takes about four to five years for the tail to grow back," Bob Riley said.

Goats rescued from bridge after two days stranded on thin ledge

Two goats proved to be real silly billies when they got stranded for two days on the ledge of a bridge in Montana.

The poor bleeters were plucked to safety by a towering crane after going without food and drink for 48 hours.


They are thought to have wandered onto the railroad ledge in southern Montana at night, then froze once the sun rose and they realised where they were.

The two young females occasionally stepped to the pillar to urinate then returned to the narrower ledge, where they tried to rest their tired legs by tucking them under their bodies for a few seconds, an eye-witness said.

The goats are now said to be in a good condition.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/839883-goats-rescued-from-bridge-after-two-days-on-thin-ledge

Goats rescued from bridge after two days stranded on thin ledge

Two goats proved to be real silly billies when they got stranded for two days on the ledge of a bridge in Montana.

The poor bleeters were plucked to safety by a towering crane after going without food and drink for 48 hours.


They are thought to have wandered onto the railroad ledge in southern Montana at night, then froze once the sun rose and they realised where they were.

The two young females occasionally stepped to the pillar to urinate then returned to the narrower ledge, where they tried to rest their tired legs by tucking them under their bodies for a few seconds, an eye-witness said.

The goats are now said to be in a good condition.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/839883-goats-rescued-from-bridge-after-two-days-on-thin-ledge

LARGE CANINE KILLED IN CARTER COUNTY, MONTANA (Via Paul Cropper)

LARGE CANINE KILLED IN CARTER COUNTY
655 words
14 May 2010
US Fed News
English
Copyright 2010. HT Media Limited. All rights reserved.

HELENA, Mont., May 13 -- The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks issued the following news release:

A large canine that had been reported as a possible wolf was killed when caught near livestock on private land between Hammond and Ekalaka in Carter County on May 11, 2010. The animal had been reported in and near livestock on several occasions in the area. FWP officials believe the animal is not a wild wolf and was of domestic origin based upon physical examination. Compared to a wild wolf, it had a small head, small feet, and facial markings that resemble a domestic husky. More obvious, however, is that the fluorescent orange pet collar is not consistent with any collars placed on a wild wolf by FWP or USDA Wildlife Services. "The nylon webbing collar with a snap closure and buckle is the type commonly found at any pet or feed supply store," said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Troy Hinck.

The male canine was first reported April 14 when found in a pasture with livestock. The sightings were somewhat sporadic until May 10, when it was seen on a ranch a few miles away from the original sighting. According to warden Hinck, "The landowner did the right thing by calling FWP to make sure he knew the rules and laws associated with wolves in Montana and what his rights were as a Montana landowner to protect his livestock in case it was an actual wolf."

On May 11, it was near a ranch house within a pasture with livestock. The animal was killed by the property owner near the house. The incident was reported and FWP law enforcement investigated later that day. According to warden Hinck, "No charges were filed as the landowner action was justified and legal even if it turned out it was a wild wolf."

The wolf was delisted from the Federal Endangered Species Act on May 9, 2009. Montana law, administrative rules and the state wolf management plan took full effect that day.

Montana law and administrative rules (MCA 87-3-130; ARM 12.9.1301-1305) allow a person to kill a wolf that is seen in the act of attacking or killing a domestic dog not used for herding or guarding livestock. No permit is required, and FWP should be notified within 72 hours. The carcass is surrendered to FWP. Physical evidence of the wolf attack is required that would lead a reasonable person to conclude the attack was ongoing. A person may not intentionally bait a wolf with domestic dogs or livestock for the purpose of killing the wolf. Wolves may be opportunistically hazed or harassed in a non-injurious manner. Reporting to FWP within 72 hours is encouraged. Attacking or killing means the actual biting, wounding, or grasping of livestock or domestic dogs.

THESE RULES APPLY STATEWIDE CONSULT TRIBAL AUTHORITIES IF YOU LIVE WITHIN
Montana law and administrative rules (MCA 87-3-130; ARM 12.9.1301-1305) allow a person to kill a wolf that is seen in the act of attacking, killing, or threatening to kill a person. Report the incident to FWP within 72 hours.

While this turned out to be a dog at large rather than a wolf this demonstrates the legal way Montanans protect their property and work with FWP to manage this kind of incident.

In southeastern Montana it is a rare and unusual event to see a wild wolf. But in case someone does see wolves or wolf sign, contact the nearest FWP regional or state office at or use the online Wolf Observation Report at http://fwp.mt.gov/doingBusiness/contactUs/contactForm.html?action=getCustomContactForm&id=wolf_report

To report a dead wolf or possible illegal activity, call 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668).
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