A groundbreaking fossil find in the Comox Valley has left an indelible mark on the field of paleontology in British Columbia. This story is a testament to the power of curiosity and the impact of amateur enthusiasts on scientific discovery.
In the crisp autumn of 1988, Richard Hebda, then head of botany at the Royal BC Museum, received a report of an intriguing fossil discovery along the Puntledge River. With a sense of cautious optimism, he visited the home of Mike Trask, an amateur fossil hunter.
A Doorway to a New World
Hebda's initial skepticism was soon replaced by awe as he examined a series of grey tubular rocks laid out on newspapers in Trask's living room. These turned out to be fossilized vertebrae, remnants of a large creature from the distant past.
Trask explained that he had found these fossils while fossil hunting with his 13-year-old daughter, Heather, along the Puntledge River. At the time, Hebda was unaware of any significant vertebrate fossils being discovered on Vancouver Island.
The significance of this find became apparent when Hebda consulted with Betsy Nicholls, a paleontologist at the Royal Tyrell Museum. Nicholls identified the fossils as belonging to an elasmosaur, a marine reptile that swam in the late Cretaceous period, some 85 million years ago. This creature, with its small head and long, bulbous body, resembled the mythical Loch Ness monster.
Unveiling a New Chapter in Paleontology
The elasmosaur specimen discovered by Trask was the first of its kind found west of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Recognizing the importance of the find, Trask and Hebda, with the help of invertebrate paleontologist Rolf Ludvigson, devised a plan to excavate the site.
In 1991, an advertisement in the local newspaper sought 20 volunteers for a paleontological excavation project. Under Ludvigson's supervision and Trask's technical guidance, the team excavated approximately 100 cubic meters of earth over three months. Their efforts were rewarded with the discovery of a nearly complete elasmosaur specimen.
The excitement generated by this find led Trask to teach a course on local paleontology and geology at North Island College. His students, including a radiologist named Joe Zanbilowicz, made further discoveries, including a small vertebra embedded in a shale cliff, which turned out to be part of another marine reptile.
A Community of Fossil Enthusiasts
The enthusiasm and interest from volunteers prompted Trask and his students to form an informal group, which eventually became the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society in 1992. This society, the first of its kind in the province, grew rapidly, with members from across the Comox Valley and beyond.
To better serve its members, the society's board encouraged a regional approach, leading to the formation of similar societies in Victoria, Vancouver, and Qualicum Beach. This network of fossil enthusiasts and professionals became known as the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance.
Preserving the Legacy of B.C.'s Fossils
One of the Alliance's key initiatives was the development of policies and regulations governing fossil collecting, including a code of ethics. A critical policy they advocated for was the prohibition of the commercial sale of B.C. fossils. In the past, commercial fossil collectors had operated in the Tumbler Ridge area, removing large slabs of fossil fish and selling them.
Through their efforts, the Alliance transformed B.C. into a hub of paleontological activity, with new discoveries outpacing the capacity of paleontologists to study them. Over the years, fossil collectors across the province have discovered new genera and species, numbering in the hundreds.
A Lasting Impact
In 2023, after decades of advocacy by the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance, the province adopted Trask's elasmosaur as the provincial fossil, alongside other symbols like the Pacific dogwood and spirit bear. Despite the challenges of poor preservation, the elasmosaur's impact on paleontology in B.C. cannot be overstated.
It took over 30 years for another elasmosaur specimen to be found, this time by Pat Trask, Mike's twin brother. With this new material, paleontologist Robin O'Keefe was able to name a new genus and species, Traskasaura sandrae, honoring Mike, Heather, and Pat Trask.
Mike Trask's legacy as a citizen scientist and his contributions to paleontology will forever be remembered. His story serves as a reminder of the power of curiosity and the invaluable role that amateur enthusiasts play in advancing scientific knowledge.
