Researchers have successfully extracted and reconstructed ancient genomes from the Pleistocene epoch using DNA preserved in fossilized squirrel feces. The discovery, made in Yukon, Canada, includes genetic material from woolly mammoths, horses, steppe bison, and ground squirrels. This innovative approach utilized exceptionally well-preserved coprolites – fossilized excrement – dating back as far as 700,000 years. Previously, obtaining such ancient DNA was challenging due to degradation over time. The findings offer new insights into the biodiversity of the ancient Arctic grasslands and the evolutionary history of these species. This method provides a novel pathway for studying extinct megafauna where skeletal remains are scarce. The research demonstrates the surprising potential of seemingly mundane sources like animal waste for unlocking secrets of the past.