Ancient poop belonging to Arctic squirrels, found in Yukon permafrost, revealed a surprisingly carnivorous nature through molecular analysis.

Yukon

Who

scientists, Arctic squirrels, Bryan McLean, Tyler Murchie

What

When

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:00:29 GMT · 3h 39m ago

Where

Yukon ·

Why

The squirrels needed to fatten up for hibernation and were desperate for protein upon emerging.

The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This discovery challenges the traditional view of ground squirrels as purely plant-eaters, showing they have a long-standing opportunistic survival strategy that includes eating meat, crucial for surviving harsh Arctic conditions.

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Verified Sources & Citations

ZME Science
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ancient-squirrels-feasted-on-meat-from-carcasses-of-mammoths-bison-and-even-big-cats/
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