Species: Two species are found in North America: Northern (Glaucomy volans) and Southern (Glaucomy sabrinus). It is hard to distinguish between the two, although Northern adults are larger (but juveniles could be confused with adult Southern) with cinnamon/grayish/reddish-brown or blackish brown fur. Southern tend to be more grayish, but color is variable. Belly hair differ but also vary (Northern has dark gray belly hair at the base tipped with a lighter color, Southern is more white.) DNA is the only way to tell for sure. The species are not known to interbreed.
There are two subspecies of the Southern Flying Squirrel in the southern Appalachians, the Carolina Northern flying squirrel, G. s. coloratus, and the Virginia Northern flying squirrel G. s. fuscus - both are endangered.
Interesting Facts:
They do not really fly, they glide. They steer by adjusting the tautness of the patagium (furry membrane), and use their tail as a stabilizer and to brake before landing. They can glide 80-150 feet.
They may store up to 15,000 nuts in a season.
Flying Squirrels are the only nocturnal tree squirrel, and are the smallest of all squirrels.
They have been kept as pets since the Colonial era. They are very social and require a significant commitment of time from their owners. More info. Many States and the U.S. require a special permit to capture, sell or keep native wildlife.
Northern Flying Squirrels make a low, soft chirp, and cluck when distressed.
There has never been a report of flying squirrels having rabies. They can get typhus, but this is only rarely passed to humans. They can get lice, fleas, mites and parasites.
Identification: Small (about 9-14 inches long), large eyes, flattened tail, whitish underneath. Furry membrane between front and rear legs. Males and females look alike.
Distribution: Both species are actually fairly common in CT, but are not often seen because they are active at night. See range maps.
Northern: Alaska and Canada southward in the west to northern California and Colorado, in the middle of the continent to central Michigan and Wisconsin, and in the east to northern North Carolina and Tennessee. Small populations exist in areas of high elevation in other parts of the U.S., including the southern Appalachian Mountains, Black Hills, and Sierra Nevada (Animal Diversity Web). Prefer older coniferous forest.
Southern: in the eastern half of North America, from southeastern Canada to Florida, and south as far as Mexico and the Honduras. Prefer older deciduous forest, often along streams and near wetlands.
Preferred Nesting Habitat: Found in coniferous and mixed forests (especially those that produce mast like maple, beech, hickory, oak and poplar), with good tree cover. May avoid areas where wood has been recently harvested. May den in houses or barns.
According to Keith Kridler, Flying Squirrels require a large wooded area where trees are spaced close enough to allow them to sail through the area without spending much time on the ground.
Diet: Fond of hickory nuts and acorns, peanuts, pecans and sunflower seed. Prone to calcium deficit in captivity.
Northern: Fungi, lichens, mushrooms, hardwood mast (nuts except walnuts because shell is too hard), tree sap, insects, carrion, bird eggs and nestlings, buds, and flowers, bird seed.
Southern: insects, mast, fungi and mushrooms (esp. truffles), carrion, buds, flowers, bird eggs and nestlings, seeds, berries, fruit, insects, slugs and snails, bark, young mice, tree sap, carrion (esp. in winter). May cache food for winter use.
Nesting Behavior: They have "refugia" nests (shelters or "dens" for daytime [often 8-20 feet high, in cavities with holes 1.5-2"] - sometimes they make "dreys" that are not in cavities during warmer months), "natal" nests (used to raise young - usually more voluminous), and "aggregate" nests (shared with related or unrelated individuals during winter.) Some dens are used exclusively for defecation, and humus can build up to 1.5 feet (enature.com).
They live in loose colonies, and the previous years young may live in the same boxes with adults and young from the current year. They may be in a nestbox any month of the year. When not rearing young, may shift from nest or nest, or share nests to stay warm in cold temperatures (since they do not hibernate). Northern squirrels have a clean nest, Southern squirrels are less fastidious and may soil their nest, and bring food into denning nests.
Nestboxes: Usually nest in abandoned woodpecker holes and natural cavities in snags, but occasionally use a bluebird nestbox. They may use regular nestboxes or gourds. They often occupy owl nestboxes.
They have been known to evict smaller birds, and eat the eggs and nestlings of of other cavity nesters, and kill adults. (see Predator/Problem ID.)
Kridler indicates they can enter a box with a 7/8" slot, and adults can enter a 1.25" round hole though a pregnant female may find this tight. They may prefer a box with a 6x6" floor, 8-10" deep, with a hole-to-floor depth of 6-8", 1.5" hole, mounted 10-26' high. They seem to prefer a hole small enough so a gray squirrel and predators can not enter. See nestbox plan link below. Bluebirders have had them in Gary Springer Chalet nestbxoes with a 4x5" bottom mounted 9 feet off the ground on conduit, hollow log nestboxes with a 2.5" round interior, screech owl boxes mounted 10 feet high on a tree trunk, and Carrier nestboxes (which were thought to be sparrow resistant, but are not) attached to tree trunks.
Nestbox Location: In preferred habitat with tree cover. Try 8-20 feet high. Keith Kridler of TX has found them nesting in boxes on telephone poles about 150 feet from the nearest tall tree. Their movements on the ground are awkward, so they probably prefer to be able to glide to the nest location to avoid predation.
Recommended distance between nestboxes: Kridler recommends putting 3-5 nestboxes scattered in a five acre area, and then another 3-5 boxes in about 10-20 acres distant (about every mile or so.) Animal Diversity webs says home ranges are 0.5-1.5 hectares, male ranges overlap, female ranges to not overlap with ranges of other females. Wikipedia.org says Home ranges are up to 40,000 square meters for females, and 50% higher for males (Wikipedia.org).
Monitoring: If you suspect they are using a nestbox, tap on it and they will usually scamper out. Do not push your hand inside the nest, as they may bite. See more information on Predator/Problem ID on the Bluebird Trail. Bumblebees may inhabit old flying squirrel nests.
Nesting Timetable (typical):
Excavation or nest site selection: See above. Secondary cavity nesters (do not excavate their own nest.) Females may be territorial and defend nest sites. Males are not allowed near the natal nests.)
Nest construction: Depends on available materials. Northern: grass, shredded bark (e.g., cedar, grape, birch), moss, lichen, feathers, found animal fur, feathers, small twigs, leaves and conifer needles, and manmade materials like attic insulation or newspaper. In summer, may use a leaf nest for "roosting." Southern: lined with shredded bark or, in the Deep South, Spanish moss and palmetto fibers.
Gestation: Approximately 40 days.
Birth: Northern: 1-6 per litter (2-4 typical); Southern: 2-7 per litter (2-3 is common), born in early spring or mid-summer. Early on they are fed milk, then soft things like insects and tender twigs.
Development: Young born without fur, eyes and ears closed, fused toes, cylindrical tail. Ears open at 2-6 days, by 6 days toes are separated, fur starts to grow in by 7 days. Eyes not open until 24-30 days old. See details on Northern or Southern.
Leaving nest : Northern: leave nest at 40 days, weaned after 2 months. Southern: Weaned at 65 days.
Number of litters : Northern one litter. Southern may produce two litters per year. In the Pacific Northwest, Northern Flying Squirrels breed once a year in May or June.
Longevity: Probably about six years in the wild, 10-15 years in captivity. Mating usually at 12 mos. (as young as 9 mos.) Sub-adults are preyed on by arboreal snakes, nocturnal owls, raccoons, martens, fishers, coyotes and house cats.
Linda Violett's website - Two-Hole Mansion construction (Linda Violett). Flying Squirrels seem to like this hanging box (the size/two holes/height/location or something - I've never had them in my single-holed pole/tree mounted boxes).
