Miners working in Northern Canada in 2018 discovered a small, tannish-brown lump that appeared to be made of fossilized fur.
Now, after studying the mysterious blob, paleontologists say it’s a perfectly preserved Arctic ground squirrel that lived roughly 30,000 years ago during the Ice Age. The creature, which was curled up into a tight ball, likely died while hibernating, per CBC News’ Dave White and Elyn Jones.
The unusual specimen will soon go on display at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center in Whitehorse, Canada. The museum is currently closed while staffers switch out its exhibition materials, but it’s slated to reopen to the public this spring. The mummified Ice Age squirrel will be among the new exhibits, along with a preserved black-footed ferret found in the same region.
