The potential importance of life history traits to population growth rates has been well explored theoretically but has rarely been documented in wild mammals. In this study we used 18 consecutive years of data from a population of North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in the southwest Yukon, Canada, to examine variation in female life history traits and their consequences for population growth rate. Red squirrels in this population experienced severe juvenile mortality, but survivorship beyond age 2 followed a Type I relationship where the annual survival probability decreased with age. Maximum lifespan was 8 y. Some females initiated breeding as yearlings, but most delayed first breeding until 2 y of age or in some cases even later. Annual reproduction generally involved the production of a single litter averaging 3.1 offspring (range: 1 to 7); however, some females attempted a second litter within a single breeding season, either following reproductive failure or, in rare circumstances, after a successful first breeding attempt. Life table characteristics for the 11 cohorts born between 1987 and 1997 indicated a population growth rate close to zero (r = 0.009). Elasticity analysis as well as individual population projection matrices and lifetime reproductive success data indicated that early survival and not age at first reproduction was most strongly associated with a female's contribution to population growth. Lifespan accounted for 83.9% of the variation in population growth rate and was positively correlated with age at first reproduction, such that females who bred as yearlings suffered decreased longevity. Collectively, these results emphasize the importance of female survival and not reproductive output to population growth and lifetime fitness in this system.