Photo by gabrielegalimbertiphoto and Juri De Luca | Fossils of long-extinct creatures aren’t just in museums. Today they're also in homes and businesses, as wealthy collectors indulge a controversial hobby. Known in some circles as the “dinosaur cowboy,” rancher Clayton Phipps (top) explores part of the Hell Creek Formation near his home in Jordan, Montana, with his son Luke. The layers of fossil-rich rock date to the end of the Cretaceous period—a valuable record of the world just before dinosaurs became extinct. Many key fossils have been found here, including the world’s first identified T. rex, in 1902. In the United States, fossils found on private property usually belong to the landowner, and collectors may strike deals with owners to dig on their land. Phipps says fossils generate the bulk of his income, so when he’s not tending to ranch duties, he works his land in a more lucrative way—scouring it for dinosaur bones. #dinosaurs #dino #dinosaur #montana #trex #hellcreek