Rare Juvenile T-Rex Fossil Found by Children to be Displayed at Denver Museum

In a rare and extraordinary discovery, three children stumbled upon a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex fossil during a family hike in the North Dakota Badlands. This surprising find will soon be showcased at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the institution announced on Tuesday.

The remarkable discovery occurred in July 2022, when brothers Jessin and Liam Fisher, their father Sam Fisher, and their cousin, Kaiden Madsen, came across the well-preserved T-Rex fossil. Initially uncertain about the nature of their find, Sam Fisher sought assistance from a former high school friend, paleontologist Tyler Lyson.

Excavation and Unveiling

After obtaining an excavation permit from the Bureau of Land Management, Tyler Lyson, along with a team, traveled to North Dakota in 2023 to excavate the fossil in the company of the children. In a surprising turn of events, the most distinctive feature of the fossil, its teeth, confirmed the extraordinary nature of the discovery.

The juvenile T-Rex fossil, affectionately named "Teen Rex" by the museum, is one of only four young T-Rex fossils ever found on Earth. According to Chief Fossil Preparator Natalie Toth, the completeness of the specimen makes it a truly special find, akin to encountering apex predators in a national park.

While the exact age of the dinosaur is yet to be determined, it is estimated to have been between 12 and 14 years old. This places its weight at approximately half of that of other well-known T-Rex specimens. The museum has hailed the discovery as an unprecedented and heartwarming tale of three young fossil enthusiasts uncovering the king of all dinosaurs.

The "Discovering Teen Rex" exhibit, scheduled to open on June 21, will feature the juvenile T-Rex fossil for public viewing. Additionally, a documentary chronicling the boys' remarkable discovery will be presented at the museum's Infinity Theater, allowing visitors to experience the enthralling story behind the find.