![Science Museum Wants Giant Beaver to be State Official Fossil](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/10/attachment-Giant-Beaver.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Science Museum Wants Giant Beaver to be State Official Fossil
ST. PAUL -- The Science Museum of Minnesota Wednesday morning announcing the giant beaver has won the vote to go on and potentially become the Official State Fossil.
Minnesota is one of only seven states that does *not* already have a designated state fossil.
so we absolutely have every intention of taking this thing all the way through legislation and getting it passed
The Science Museum's Dr. Alex Hastings says an initial eight candidates were chosen, and the giant beaver was a write-in ninth candidate.
Geologic age: About 2.58 million years to 10,150 years old, Pleistocene Epoch
Region in Minnesota: Twin Cities area and Freeborn County, Minnesota
Fast fact: With its buck teeth and aquatic lifestyle, Castoroides ohioensis probably looked a lot like modern beavers. But you would have noticed at least one big difference: weighing over 200 pounds, Castoroides was the size of a small bear.
![AM 1240 WJON logo](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/11/attachment-wjonam-alexacard-big.jpg?w=100)
Other finalists included the crow shark, bison antiquus, and the large long-snouted crocodile relative.
The Minnesota News Network contributed to this story.
11 Things in Your Minnesota Home That Probably Need to Be Cleaned
Mansion on the Market in St. Cloud Looks Like a Hallmark Movie Set
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Space Summer Continues at MN Science Museum](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2022/04/attachment-space-go.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Science Museum Debuts Mental Health Exhibit](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2015/09/Science-Museum-of-Minnesota.png?w=980&q=75)
![King Tut Exhibit Opens in St. Paul](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/02/king_tut_cover_shot1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![King Tut Exhibit Open At Science Museum Of Minnesota](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/02/King-Tut.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Going to the Trump Rally in St. Cloud? Here’s What You Need to Know](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Trump-at-RNC-Photo-Brandon-Bell-Getty-Images.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![New Wave of COVID-19 Increasing Cases in Minnesota](http://townsquare.media/site/341/files/2020/04/fusion-medical-animation-rnr8D3FNUNY-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Man Suffers Significant Injuries in Fire](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/05/Fire-gear.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Emmer Honors Retiring St. Cloud Mayor on U.S. House Floor](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/07/attachment-Emmer-Kleis.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Virtual Ice Fishing Tournament Changes Ownership](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/02/attachment-GettyImages-1367444464.jpg?w=980&q=75)