Ancient ground squirrels feasted on carcasses like ‘zombies of the Pleistocene’

Ancient ground squirrels consumed mammoth, bison, and big cat carcasses, acting as "zombies of the Pleistocene," according to research published in Nature on June 9, 2026. Analysis of fossilized feces, known as coprolites, revealed DNA fragments from these large Pleistocene animals. These findings are significant as they include some of the oldest DNA ever successfully reconstructed. The study suggests that these small mammals played a crucial role in scavenging and potentially distributing the remains of megafauna across ancient landscapes. The researchers identified genetic material from at least 17 different mammalian species within the coprolites, indicating a diverse scavenging diet. This behavior challenges previous assumptions about the ecological roles of small mammals during the Pleistocene epoch, highlighting their contribution to nutrient cycling and decomposition processes. The oldest DNA recovered dates back approximately 1.7 million years, offering a unique window into the ancient ecosystem.