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As you may know the US Congress is looking at several Bills that would
affect the collection of fossils by academic paleontologists on public
lands. To gauge the level of public support for these measures the
president of the Dinosaur Society, in conjunction with SVP and the Paleo.
Society, commissioned a telephone poll. The poll targeted public attitudes
to the collection of vertebrate and invertebrate fossils on public and
private land by means of several scenarios. Results of the poll (listed
below and cross posted from micropal) make thought-provoking reading.
Any Comments?
Norm MacLeod
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Notice that this poll uses both vertebrates and invertebrates but not
microfossils. A different result might occur if microfossils were
described as being collected in bulk rock samples, almost exclusively by
professional micropaleontologists. Nevertheless, this poll is encouraging
in that Americans in general seem to be supportive of professional
positions.
Jere
A POLL REGARDING THE OPINION OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AS TO COMMERCIAL
COLLECTING OF FOSSILS ON PUBLIC LANDS.
This poll was taken in the Fall of 1995 by MKTG, Inc., a major
polling service located in East Islip, New York. This is the first time
such a poll has been taken, and it was conducted because the paleontological
community wanted to ascertain the public's view in the matter of commercial
collecting of fossils on public lands. More than 300 contacts were made,
under a randomized process that made each telephone in the U.S. have the
same probability of being called. The order of questioning was randomized
so that responses to one question could not systematically affect the answer
to another question. The results are accurate to 7%. The response is
extremely bi-polar; it is highly unlikely that a larger poll would narrow
the gaps.
Based on the results of this poll, the American public are
overwhelmingly against commercial collecting on Federal public lands. Any
legislation that enfranchises commercial collecting of fossils on Federal
public lands, such as the pending "Fossil Protection Act of 1996" to be
introduced by Representative (D., S.Dakota) Tim Johnson, would be counter to
public opinion. Notice that the title of the Act is a misnomer. Fossils
are not protected under this Act. [Remember, I sent out an electronic
version of this proposed Act in late 1995]
THE POLL
Scenario #1:
Imagine, that you have inherited a large ranch out West. On a visit to your
ranch you discover the fossil bones of an animal. At first you think that
they are the bones of a cow that died in recent years. However, at closer
inspection you find that the bones are stone, the skull is strange-looking,
and the backbone looks different from anything you've seen. Pieces of bone
are washing out of a rock ledge, they are falling apart and appear very
fragile. You recall that someone told you that the fossil bones of ancient
creatures, millions of years old are sometimes found in the area. Remember
you now own the ranch.
Scenario #2:
After your discovery you obtain a detailed survey of your property, you find
out that you had actually wandered off of your property and into Public
Property part of a National Grasslands, a Federal Wilderness area or a
National Park. The fossil is not on your lands but rather on these Public
Lands.
Scenario #3:
Imagine, you are on another visit to the ranch. Again you wander off of the
ranch into Public Property part of a National Grasslands, a Federal
Wilderness area or a National Park. This time you discover the fossils of
animals without backbones. Some look like crabs, some like corals and other
unlike anything you have ever seen. The rock seems loaded with their
impressions. You recall that someone told you that the fossils of these
strange creatures, millions of years old, are sometimes found in the area.
Remember you are on Public Property.
Scenario #1 Scenario #2 Scenario #3 Questions
Vertebrate --Private Vertebrate --Public Invertebrate --Public
(Q1) The fossil is mine, finders keepers
Agree 46.0% 17.0% 16.3%
Disagree 48.7% 81.0% 81.3%
(Q2) The fossil could be of scientific importance, I should
report it to appropriate scientific authorities
Agree 90.3% 97.4% 96.0%
Disagree 7.6% 2.4% 3.0%
(Q3) The fossil could be of scientific importance, if they
want it I should allow a museum or university to collect it.
Agree 83.7% 90.7% 90.7%
Disagree 13.7% 7.0% 5.3%
(Q4) The fossil is part of our heritage, it belongs to everyone
in the United States.
Agree 68.0% 86.6% 89.7%
Disagree 26.7% 12.3% 8.0%
(Q5) It's within the bounds of my property, I should be allowed
to do whatever I want to do with it. What's important here
are my property rights.
Agree 63.0%
Disagree 32.7%
(Q6) There should be a law prohibiting my taking the fossil
out of the ground.
Agree 37.3% 70.7% 73.6%
Disagree 56.7% 25.4% 21.3%
(Q7) There should be a law against my selling the fossil.
Agree 36.6% 80.0% 81.7%
Disagree 58.0% 17.3% 15.7%
(Q8) There should be a law against my taking the fossil
out of the United States.
Agree 57.0% 81.0% 84.3%
Disagree 37.3% 13.3% 13.0%
GENERAL QUESTIONS
(Q1) It's okay with me for someone to buy and sell fossils.
Agree 49.3%
Disagree 42.6%
(Q1a) It's okay with me for someone to buy and sell common fossils.
Agree 65.3%
Disagree 25.5%
(Q1b) It's okay with me for someone to buy and sell rare fossils, perhaps
scientifically important fossils.
Agree 34.0%
Disagree 62.1%
(Q2) Fossils found on Public Lands should be restricted. It should be
illegal to collect them, to sell them, to destroy them, to export them
out of the United States.
Agree 80.3%
Disagree 14.3%
(Q3) Fossils found on private land should be legally available for sale.
Agree 46.0%
Disagree 48.0%
(Q4) All fossils found in the United States, whether found
on private or public lands should be the property of public
institutions like museums or universities.
Agree 64.0%
Disagree 31.6%
(Q5) There should be a law to stop people from collecting
fossils on Federally Managed Public Lands.
Agree 75.7%
Disagree 19.3%
(Q6) There should be a law to stop people from collecting
fossils on all state lands.
Agree 64.7%
Disagree 27.0%
(Q7a) Fossils of animals with backbones are part of our
national heritage and should be protected in much the same
way that Archaeological remains (human artifacts) are now
protected.
Agree 85.3%
Disagree 7.4%
(Q7b) Fossils of animals without backbones are part of our
national heritage and should be protected in much the same
way that Archaeological remains (human artifacts) are now
protected.
Agree 82.7%
Disagree 9.7%
(Q8) This is the United States, we should encourage free
enterprise. A law restricting the selling of fossils collected
on private lands is wrong.
Agree 54.7%
Disagree 38.0%
(Q9) If someone finds a fossil of a dinosaur and wants to
keep it in their basement that's fine with me.
Agree 31.0%
Disagree 62.7%
(Q10) If someone finds a fossil of a dinosaur they should
not remove it unless they obtain the aid of professionals/
scientists.
Agree 89.7%
Disagree 6.0%
(Q11) If laws are created to restrict the collection of fossils
on Public Lands, the only people who should be allowed to
collect them are people with appropriate skills for doing so
and with a permit for that purpose. All the fossils that they
find should go into museums or universities prepared to
protect them.
Agree 88.0%
Disagree 9.0%
(Q12) Fossils bring big money these days, they should
be allowed for sale just like any other commodity.
Agree 32.6%
Disagree 59.6%
(A) And which of the following do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
Visit national parks 50.30%
Play sports 45.30%
Go hiking or camping 54.30%
Collect fossils 4.00%
Go to museums 42.70%
Watch TV 56.30%
X-other 8.00%
(B) What is your age, please?
under 18 6.70%
18-24 10.70%
25-34 20.70%
35-44 24.30%
45-54 19.00%
55-65 9.70%
66 and over 9.00%
(C) What is the last grade of school you had to complete?
Some HS or less 13.70%
Completed HS 23.00%
Some college/trade school 26.00%
Completed college 22.70%
Graduated school 14.30%
(D) Is your total household income before tax
-<15k 11.30%
15k to 25k 12.70%
25K to 35k 15.70%
35k to 45k 16.30%
45k to 55k 8.30%
55k to 65k 5.70%
65k to 75k 5.30%
over 75k 9.00%
Notice that the responses are virtually the same no matter whether the
fossils are on private versus public land and no matter whether they are
vertebrate or invertebrate fossils.
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Norman MacLeod
Senior Scientific Officer
N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (Internet)
N.MacLeod@uk.ac.nhm (Janet)
Address: Dept. of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD
Office Phone: 0171-938-9006
Dept. FAX: 0171-938-9277
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