White River fm. Mini Claw

[PaleoNoel]

Hi everyone! I found this claw while anthill hunting on the White River formation of northeastern Colorado. It's about 6 mm in length and 4 mm tall. Honestly I'm not certain that it's a fossil, but if it is I'm really excited to have found it. My first guess is that it's a small bird, but it could very well be mammalian or reptilian. Any input is appreciated.

[M Harvey]

The white objects don't look like typical fossilization from the White River formation.  I see some recent small rodent teeth and a jaw.  The close up is a claw.  The brown objects are fossil mammal tooth fragments.  

[Mahnmut]

Hi,

I think that claw could well belong to some medium sized mammal (racoon, small fox,about  that size.) Imagine a ceratinous shaeth around it, then its not that small.

If its fossil or not is another question, maybe density, hardness, burntest can help you there. Nice find anyway.

Best regards,

J

[PaleoNoel]

@jpc I believe I showed this to you during my visit last summer, any thoughts with this closeup?

[jpc]

The claw has enough bits of matrix stuck to it.  It looks fossily to me, but I'll be darn-tootined if I could tell you what animal.