Man Spots Something Odd While Fishing in a Creek—Knows He Has to Make Call

While fishing in Alberta, Canada, Dominic Boon noticed an odd object protruding from a creek. Boon, who has been exploring since childhood, initially thought the object was a cow skull when he pulled it out of the water. His friends also assumed it was a skull, but Boon's instincts led him to investigate further. Upon pulling out his phone to film, he saw horns and confidently believed the object was a bison skull.

The next day, a museum expert confirmed his suspicion, stating it was indeed a bison cranium. Boon pondered how long the skull had been in the creek, given an unusually rainy summer in Alberta. The wet weather may have exposed the skull, which could have been buried for years. The heavy rainfall in June, breaking a record for the wettest summer, could have contributed to the skull's exposure.

Boon shared his discovery with Dr. Chris Jass, curator of Quaternary Studies at the Royal Alberta Museum. The expert estimated the skull could be up to 5,000 years old, but Boon theorized it might be as old as 150 years. Regardless of its age, the skull's age remains uncertain. Native to Alberta, plains bison once numbered over 30 million in North America but nearly became extinct in Canada by the late 1880s due to overexploitation, habitat loss, and disease.

The discovery of the bison skull, particularly its relatively intact condition, is of great interest. Boon plans to take the skull to the museum for further examination, which may include measurement, weighing, scanning, and photography. Regardless of its exact age, the circumstances surrounding the skull's discovery make it a fascinating find.