County

He digs fossils: Bill Hawes finds motherlode in Rio Blanco County

When he’s digging for fossils, Bill Hawes Jr. never knows what he will uncover. That’s the fun part.
For years, he has been digging and collecting fossils on private land in an area west of the Rio Blanco Store, on property owned by Gus Halandras. He is continually thrilled at what he finds.
“There’s an amazing assortment of animals and plants out there,” said Hawes, who collects fossils for a living. “There are a lot of scientifically important things found at the site, both animals and plants. You can find all kinds of interesting things.”
In fact, a colleague, who is head of the earth science department at a museum, said of a piece of rock Hawes had uncovered at the site, “This is the holy grail.”
The fossilized piece was of a branch with about five to seven leaves and flowers and about a dozen seed pods.
Hawes said the area in Rio Blanco County where he digs is unique because of the presence of porcelain shale.
“It is part of the Green River Formation, but it is the only place where I’ve seen the porcelain shale,” Hawes said. “(The area) is 49 million years old, but it is just like it was yesterday, geologically.”
Hawes has been digging in the area — called H&H Quarry (for Halandras and Hawes) — for 20 years.
“It’s a good place to dig,” he said. “It’s not a public site. There are too many rare things there. People should not take anything without me being there. I’ve put 20 years of my life into this.”
Hawes leases the site from Halandras. They are serious about protecting the contents of the site.
“It’s not a public site,” Hawes said. “I or Gus will prosecute (people who are found digging without permission). We don’t want to do that, but we will.”
Hawes enjoys taking people to the site to dig. But they have to have permission, he stressed. They can call him at (303) 895-5097.
“People can dig out there, but it has to be with me,” Hawes said. “I want to share this. I love seeing somebody light up with delight when they uncover something that nobody else in the world has ever seen.”
Plus, digging can be hazardous, especially when it’s cold or wet, and the rocks are slippery.
“It’s too dangerous to let just anybody in there,” Hawes said. “Rock, when it breaks, is as sharp as a razor.”
For part of the year, when the weather is suitable, Hawes lives at the site.
“I’ve been camped out there for months,” he said. “I have day camp out there. It’s pretty primitive. But I probably won’t be here a whole lot longer. I’ll be back next spring, as soon as it thaws.”
Hawes earns a living by digging and collecting on private land.
“I do a service for landowners, if they are interested, to see what they have as far as fossils, gemstones and minerals,” he said. “That’s how I pay my way.”
Collecting keeps Hawes on the move.
“I don’t live anywhere,” he said. “I live from site to site.”
With winter approaching, Hawes will be heading to warmer weather to dig, such as Arizona or Mexico.
Hawes is originally from western Washington. He has an Earth science degree from Cal-State Bakersfield.
“I don’t belong to an academic society or school,” he said. “I’m a freelance scientist.”
His discoveries sometimes find their way into museums.
“I have contacts with museums all over the world,” Hawes said, noting he has two displays at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
“Most of the pieces, the good ones, go to one museum, though I’m not able to divulge (where it is) without the owner’s permission, because it is a private museum,” Hawes said. “But it is open to the public; it’s available for study. In the near future, some of the pieces will be included in a display at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.”
Hawes, who is 56, has been collecting rocks since he was 2. He comes by it naturally.
“My dad got me into this,” Hawes said. “He was a game warden, and I would go out with him into the field.”
For all of the years he has been digging and collecting, Hawes was asked if he had a favorite.
“The scorpion would have to be it,” he said, which he found about 17 years ago.
Estimated to be 49 million years old, the scorpion is on display in the Prehistoric Journey section at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. He named the piece Uintascorpio halandrasi.
“It was a way to honor to them (the Halandras family) for their contribution to paleontology,” Hawes said.
Another favorite is a fossil of a 3-inch pregnant praying mantis.
“My lady friend was digging with me and found it,” Hawes said. “I was proud of her. She had only been digging with me a couple of times (when she found it). It’s one of the best fossil insects I’ve ever seen. You can actually see the egg sack developing in the abdomen.”
Part of the allure of digging and collecting is unraveling the history of a site. For millions of years, the site in Rio Blanco County where he digs was covered by water. His fossil discoveries from the site have included flies, mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches, fish, frogs, tadpoles, katydids and, of course, the scorpion.
“All of the deposits here were in a lake, a basin,” Hawes said. “You find all kinds of interesting things.”
That’s what keeps him digging.

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
  • The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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View on Instagram |
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