FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - It was in September 1998 when Dan Buesching of Buesching’s Peat Moss and Mulch made an extraordinary discovery while digging for peat moss.

Buesching found a tusk, approximately 7 feet in length.

At the time, he had no idea what it was, so he called the experts.

“With the help of PFW, the University of Michigan, and the state museum, they all kind of coordinated the dig; we did a scientific dig. And there’s actually been a lot of documentation on our Mastodon,” Buesching said.

Buesching was given the honor of naming the Mastodon. He chose Fred in honor of his late grandfather.

In the months that followed, the business transformed into an excavation site.

Approximately 80% of the Mastodon’s structural remains were recovered, making it one of the most complete

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