How a Comox Valley Fossil Discovery Revolutionized Paleontology in B.C.
In the autumn of 1988, Richard Hebda, then head of botany at the Royal BC Museum, received a call about an intriguing fossil find on the Puntledge River. Hebda, a paleobotanist, had previously encountered a false lead involving dinosaur ribs near Chemainus, which turned out to be dirtbike tracks. However, this new discovery was different.
Mike Trask, an amateur fossil hunter, had stumbled upon a string of grey tubular rocks on the Puntledge River with his 13-year-old daughter, Heather. These rocks, as Hebda confirmed, were fossil vertebrae from a large animal. This find was groundbreaking because, at the time, no significant vertebrates had been discovered on Vancouver Island.
Trask's discovery sparked a passion for paleontology in the region. It inspired a wave of amateur paleontologists, leading to hundreds of new discoveries and the establishment of the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society, with over 100 members on the island. Hebda described it as opening a door to a new world, emphasizing the profound impact of Trask's find.
The fossil in question was an elasmosaur, a marine reptile from the late Cretaceous period, approximately 85 million years ago. It was the first of its kind found west of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Trask's initial find was incomplete, but with the help of Rolf Ludvigson, an invertebrate paleontologist, they planned a more extensive excavation.
In 1991, the Courtenay and District Museum advertised for volunteers, and the excavation began. Over three months, more than 50 volunteers shoveled about 100 cubic meters of earth, revealing a nearly complete elasmosaur specimen. Trask's interest in paleontology and geology grew, and he started teaching a course at North Island College, leading field trips to the Puntledge River.
One of these trips resulted in the discovery of a small vertebra by Joe Zanbilowicz, a radiologist. This find sparked further interest, and the group of Comox Valley residents began meeting informally to share their discoveries. In 1992, they formalized these meetings, forming the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society.
The society's growth led to the establishment of similar groups in Victoria, Vancouver, and Qualicum Beach. However, the need for collaboration and information sharing among these groups led to the formation of the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance. This alliance brought together professional paleontologists and amateur collectors, fostering collaboration and ethical fossil collecting practices.
One of the alliance's first initiatives was developing policies and regulations, including a code of ethics. A significant policy was the prohibition of the commercial sale of B.C. fossils, addressing the issue of fossil fish collectors in the Tumbler Ridge area.
Mike Trask, embodying the spirit of the citizen scientist, understood the importance of science and the impact of illegal fossil removal. His discovery of the elasmosaur led to the naming of a new genus and species, Kourisodon puntledgensis, by Betsy Nicholls. This find highlighted the potential of amateur collectors to contribute significantly to paleontology.
The British Columbia Paleontological Alliance's efforts have transformed B.C. into a hub of paleontological discoveries. Since Trask's find, hundreds of new genera and species have been discovered, with many named after the Comox Valley fossil hunters. The alliance's work has also led to the designation of Trask's elasmosaur as the provincial fossil of B.C.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. The poor preservation of Trask's elasmosaur made it difficult for paleontologists to describe it for decades. It took over 30 years for another elasmosaur specimen to be found, and it was named Traskasaura sandrae in honor of Mike, Heather, and Pat Trask. Mike Trask passed away in 2025, shortly before the paper's publication, leaving a lasting legacy as a citizen scientist.
The British Columbia Paleontological Alliance's vision, as explained by Dan Bowen, was to empower citizen scientists to collaborate with professionals for the advancement of paleontology in B.C. This collaboration has resulted in significant contributions to the field, with 15 paleontological symposiums and the support of 150 members and institutions. The legacy of Mike Trask and the alliance's efforts will continue to shape the future of paleontology in the region.
