Dinosaur fossils are valuable to scientists for a reason. They formed under special conditions tens or hundreds of millions of years ago (see “How Fossils Form”). That makes them very rare. By studying fossils, scientists can learn about extinct animals and the environments where they lived.

Fossils can also help scientists understand how Earth is changing today, says Gregory Wilson Mantilla. He’s a paleontologist (pay-lee-ahn-TAH-luh-jist) at the Burke Museum of Natural History in Seattle, Washington. For example, fossils have revealed patterns in how Earth’s surface and climate have changed. These patterns allow scientists to build models that help them predict future changes.

Wilson Mantilla is one of many people who think fossils belong in museums. One reason is because they’re fragile. Museum staff are experts at preserving them. Scientists can study the fossils in museums around the world. Plus, millions of museum visitors can admire them for decades to come.

Dinosaur fossils are important to scientists. They formed under special conditions. This happened tens or hundreds of millions of years ago (see “How Fossils Form"). So they’re very rare. Scientists study fossils to learn about extinct animals and their environments.

Earth is still changing today. Fossils can help scientists understand these changes, says Gregory Wilson Mantilla. He’s a paleontologist (pay-lee-ahn-TAH-luh-jist). He works at the Burke Museum of Natural History in Seattle, Washington. For example, Earth’s surface and climate have changed. Fossils reveal the patterns of change. Scientists use these patterns to build models. This helps them predict future changes.

Wilson Mantilla thinks fossils belong in museums. Many people agree. Fossils can break easily. But museum staff know how to preserve them. Scientists can study the fossils in museums around the world. And millions of museum visitors can enjoy them for many years.

Museums don’t automatically own fossils in the ground. In the U.S., the person who owns the land where a fossil is found also owns the fossil. Wilson Mantilla needs permission to excavate, or dig up, fossils. Some landowners are happy to let him dig up fossils to study at the museum. But people are less likely to give permission when they can sell the fossils for a lot of money.

People have been buying and selling fossils for more than 200 years. In fact, some of the first natural history museums bought their specimens from private fossil hunters like Cooper. But recently, fossil prices have shot up. Some private collectors are willing to pay millions of dollars for a spectacular find. That’s more than most museums can pay.

Once someone owns a fossil, they get to decide what to do with it. They could lock it away in storage or display it in their living room. “If fossils end up in someone’s private home, the public can’t enjoy them, and scientists can’t learn from them,” says Wilson Mantilla.

Museums don’t own fossils in the ground. In the U.S., the fossils belong to the land’s owner. Wilson Mantilla needs permission to excavate fossils, or dig them up. Some landowners are happy to give permission. They let him dig up fossils to study at the museum. But what if they can sell the fossils for a lot of money? Then they might not give permission.

People have bought and sold fossils for more than 200 years. Some of the first natural history museums bought their specimens. They got them from private fossil hunters like Cooper. But fossil prices have shot up lately. Some private collectors pay millions of dollars for an amazing find. Most museums can’t pay that much.

If someone buys a fossil, what happens to it? The owner gets to decide. They could store it, locked away. Or they could display it in their living room. “If fossils end up in someone’s private home, the public can’t enjoy them, and scientists can’t learn from them,” says Wilson Mantilla.