CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — For months, Southwest Florida has been dealing with drought conditions that have been hard to ignore. Massive wildfires have burned through parts of the Everglades and other rural areas, highlighting the challenges dry weather creates for both firefighting efforts and agriculture.
But while drought brings serious concerns, it is also being credited with helping a surprising activity gain traction: fossil hunting.
Lower Peace River Levels
Along the Peace River in Charlotte County, lower water levels are giving fossil hunters rare access to areas that are typically underwater. That means more opportunities to uncover ancient animal remains, including one of the most sought-after finds in the region: megalodon teeth.
“Definitely what we call one of our premium areas,” said Chris Mandell with Fossil Recovery. “That means this is an area where big meg teeth are being found and are continuing to be found.”…