Mammut Americanum Groleau

The American Mastodon is a distant relative of the modern elephant. It live in Michigan about ten thousand years ago. The specimen is the second mounted in Michigan. The first is at the exhibit Museum University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. It was uncovered in March 1968 by the Groleau Brothers Construction Company during the excavation of M 59 between Elizabeth Lake Road and Williams Lake Road, White Lake Township, Oakland County Michigan. Judging from its size, this Mastodon was probably an adult male. It might have perished in a peatbog -an ancient environment - which may account for the excellent preservation of some of the bones. After excavation the bones begins to deteriorate and were dipped in Elmer's glue to preserve them. The missing bones and parts of the broken ones were cast in plaster using the Warren Mastodon. "Elmer" was reconstructed by "Mounting a Mastodon" classes of Oakland Community College Fall 1981 through Spring 1982.