Life in the Yukon

 Harsh winters  Food scarcity Intense competition  Threat of predators

Life in the Yukon

Young Squirrel Struggles

 Early-life adversity can affect long-term survival

Young Squirrel Struggles

Kluane Red Squirrel Project

 Long-term field project studying red squirrels in the Yukon

Kluane Red Squirrel Project

Squirrels as Models

 Red squirrels are a good model for studying human early-life development

Squirrels as Models

Food Boom

Every 3-7 years, squirrels' favorite food (spruce cones) becomes abundant

Food Boom

But there's a surprising twist…

Superabundance of spruce cones

But there's a surprising twist…

Life in the Yukon is tough for young red squirrels

Vulnerable to predators

Life in the Yukon is tough for young red squirrels

 ChallEarly adversity reduces lifespan

Early adversity reduces lifespan by 14%

ChallEarly adversity reduces lifespan

Resilience and Squirrels

Studying squirrels can inform our understanding of human resilience

Resilience and Squirrels

Early-Life Adversity in Humans

Early challenges can shorten lifespan in humans and primates

Early-Life Adversity in Humans