Tiny Teeth, Fearsome Beast

So, we found this fossil right around here, very close to where visitors come. Kylie Ferguson, a third-grader at the time, visited the Badlands with her family back in 2010. Years later, that unforgettable day still lingers in her memory. She recalls it as the day she stumbled upon a fossil during a program on January 2nd. They taught us what fossils looked like and what to search for. Then, they set us free to hunt for fossils, and that's when I found it.

Can you remember what you first saw? I spotted a small, shiny, crescent moon-shaped object. Uncertain at first, it definitely resembled a fossil. Initially thought to be from a sheep-like animal, they later realized it had saber-like features upon excavation. When they confirmed it was a saber-toothed tiger, they got in touch. They were quite excited. Although they aren't the rarest creatures, mine was found in exceptional condition.

At the age of seven, Kylie Ferguson made a remarkable discovery - a saber-toothed tiger skull. What made it even more unique was its incredible preservation, with intricate details intact. Her fossil skull belonged to an animal known as Anam Ravid, distantly related to true saber-toothed cats but no less formidable.

Nearly a decade since the discovery, this remarkable specimen has been collected, scanned, and studied by paleontologists. Their research has allowed them to piece together its final moments. They believe it was likely attacked - there are signs of damage around the optic nerve, suggesting it was attacked from the side, a true cold case of a 32 million-year-old murder mystery.

Did this experience give you the impression that science is accessible to anyone? Absolutely. A seven-year-old finding one of the best-preserved cat skulls in the area is incredible. It's amazing that you had the training and knew what to do during the program, leading to this remarkable scientific discovery. It's truly inspiring."