Local Discovery of Rare Mastodon Fossil Sparks Interest in Bay Area’s Natural History

A well-preserved mastodon tooth found in a San Francisco creek highlights the region's ancient past. Experts analyze the rare fossil.

Editorial Desk

September 12, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Los Altos, California — A geomorphologist stumbled upon a remarkable piece of prehistoric history while working on a habitat restoration project in the San Francisco Bay Area. The find was a well-preserved fossilized tooth from a Pacific mastodon, an extinct elephant-like species that roamed North America thousands of years ago.

The discovery was made by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist at Balance Hydrologics, who was conducting work in a Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District preserve in San Mateo County. The tooth, which is about 9 inches long and in excellent condition, has been donated to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability for further study.

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Experts say such fossils are relatively common in certain regions, but the local significance of this find has generated excitement. The fossil will be used for public outreach and education, reinforcing the importance of preserving open spaces and natural habitats.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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