Ever wondered how saber-toothed cats and other extinct creatures behaved? A team of scientists may have found some answers through a remarkable discovery — ancient footprints that shed light on the lives of prehistoric animals dating back as far as 50 million years.
The National Park Service (NPS) described the find at Oregon’s John Day Fossil Beds National Monument as “groundbreaking.” These newly uncovered trace fossils offer a rare glimpse into the daily.
These included footprints and impressions left by ancient birds, mammals, lizards, and even invertebrates.
Their findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Palaeontologia Electronica, mark the first documented fossil tracks of birds and lizards at the monument. The study adds valuable behavioral insight to the region’s already rich fossil record, which until now primarily focused on skeletal remains.
“It’s truly fascinating. It shows just how remarkably long a species can maintain the same foraging habits as its ancestors.”
What Prehistoric Creatures Once Roamed Oregon 50 Million Years Ago?

Scientists studying fossilized tracks from two distinct rock layers at John Day Fossil Beds have revealed new insights into prehistoric life and behaviors never before documented in the monument’s fossil record. Here’s what they discovered:
Birds and Invertebrates (50–39 million years ago): Two small bird footprints, found alongside invertebrate trails and beak marks, suggest ancient shorebirds waded through shallow water, foraging for food much like modern species do today.
Interestingly, the lack of visible claw marks suggests retractable claws, a trait shared with modern cats and Marvel’s Wolverine.
Ancient Tapir or Rhinoceros Relative (29 million years ago): Rounded, three-toed hoofprints point to a large herbivore, possibly an early ancestor of the tapir or rhinoceros, once roaming the region’s ancient landscapes.
What Do These Fossil Tracks Reveal?
To study the tracks in detail, Bennett used photogrammetry—a technique that combines thousands of photos to create 3D models—using images that had been stored in museum archives since the 1980s.
“These fossil tracks don’t just confirm that these animals were here,” Bennett said in the release. “They show us how they lived—their behaviors, movements, and interactions with the environment.”
“Covering nearly 14,000 acres of protected land, the park preserves millions of years of geological and evolutionary history,” according to the National Park Service.
The monument is also home to the Thomas Condon Paleontology and Visitor Center, which houses thousands of fossil specimens and includes a public research laboratory where visitors can observe paleontologists at work.