Kayaking Sisters Stumble Upon Mysterious Grizzly Bear Skull Hidden for Centuries in Kansas River
Here’s a head-scratcher for you: What’s the chance that a casual kayak trip down the Arkansas River turns into a prehistoric treasure hunt? Well, for Ashley and Erin Watt, siblings and accidental paleontologists, it was more than luck—it was downright historic. Sticking out of a sandbar was a grizzly bear skull that, believe it or not, is only the third of its kind ever found in Kansas, with the last sighting going back all the way to the 1950s. This isn’t your everyday river litter; this fossilized relic—16 inches long and 8.5 inches wide—has experts buzzing over whether it’s from a modern grizzly or some Ice Age cousin. In a twist that feels like fate, the sisters donated this rare window into Kansas’ wild past to the Sternberg Museum, sealing their place in the annals of discovery. Who knew that a typical paddle could rewrite a bit of history—and leave us wondering, what else is hiding just beneath the surface? LEARN MORE.
Only three grizzly bear skulls of this kind have ever been found in Kansas, the last of which was discovered in the 1950s. The siblings donated their rare find to the Sternberg Museum.
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and TourismThe bear skull measured 16 inches long and 8.5 inches wide. It’s one of only three skulls of its kind discovered in Kansas — the last of which was found in the 1950s.
Ashley and Erin Watt were kayaking the Arkansas River like any other adventurous pair of siblings would do. Unlike your typical boat ride, however, this one ended with an ancient grizzly bear skull in their possession.
According to a press release from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism (KDWPT), the discovery began when the two sisters saw a large skull sticking out of a sandbar. The skull was later measured to be 16 inches long and 8.5 inches wide.
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