Flying Squirrel

Northern Flying Squirrel: Glaucomys sabrinus
Southern Flying Squirrel: Glaucomys volans

Written by Chris Coyle

Both Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels are found in Massachusetts. The Northern Flying Squirrel is larger and grayer in color than the Southern species. Southern Flying Squirrels are the smallest of the tree squirrels and are common to uncommon in New England. Flying Squirrels are nocturnal and spend most of the day sleeping so they are not seen often.

Southern flying squirrel B Cephas, CC BY-SA 4.0

HABITAT:

They prefer heavily wooded areas. Found in mature deciduous trees, mixed wood, or coniferous forests. They are active all year and use hollow trees and cavities for winter dens. Although flying squirrels do not hibernate, they may hunker down in a nest with other flying squirrels during times of severely cold weather.

NESTING:

A litter of 2-6 young are born in a nest during the spring. Sometimes a second litter is born in the late summer. The young are at first naked and helpless. They are raised by their mother and by five weeks are able to begin learning how to glide so that by ten weeks they are ready to leave the nest.

BEHAVIOR:

Flying Squirrels do not fly in the true sense but can glide up to 240 feet. Their ability to glide is enabled by of the loose fold of skin between their legs and their long tails aid in stability.

FOOD:

Nuts, especially acorns, conifer seeds, fruit, insects, eggs, nestlings, and sometimes small rodents. They often store food in tree cavities. Because Flying Squirrels feed at night, they depend mainly on their sense of smell in locating food.

PREDATORS:

Birds of prey, coyotes, racoons, snakes, weasels and domestic cats. Their excellent gliding ability helps them to evade predators.