Abundant, but nocturnal, they are difficult to spot The southern flying squirrel

By Amy Reeher

Ohio certified volunteer naturalist

Reading a book one evening I felt a presence in the room. This is not a Halloween-type story, as I simply found myself with an unusual roommate – a southern flying squirrel.

It was sitting on a ledge near the entrance to the attic with its tail tucked over its body. It was almost camouflaged against the wood with its olive-brown fur. Once the tail was no longer covering the body, the paler creamy color of its belly could be seen.

The presence of a rodent in the house may not be that uncommon, but the presence of a flying squirrel is not as likely of a story. Most Ohioans do not even realize that the flying squirrel is abundant because they never see one. Flying squirrels are nocturnal and often remain unseen by humans as they are adapted to keep predators at bay.

As members of the order Rodentia, flying squirrels share characteristics with their daytime Ohio cousin, the eastern gray squirrel. All rodents have incisors that grow continuously and must be kept short by gnawing. Rodents can be important foods sources for other animals and play a vital role in keeping the ecosystem healthy. Rodents are considered to be one of the most successful groups of mammals for their adaptability and fertility (they tend to have high reproductive rates). One of the adaptations that makes the flying squirrel so unique is its ability to glide through the air of its habitat. The flying squirrel has a “gliding membrane,” which is a flap of loose skin that extends from the wrist to the ankle. When the flap is outstretched, it allows the squirrel to glide from tree to tree.

The prolific nature of rodents means the flying squirrel will reproduce more than once in a year. Breeding takes place once between February and March, then again between May and July. Their gestation period is about 40 days. The number of young born each breeding session varies from two to six.

Flying squirrels can be found in woodlands or forests of deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous trees. Flying squirrels are omnivores so this habitat is perfectly suited to their needs. They can be quite difficult to spot, but if you are willing to take a night hike or venture into your backyard after dark, you may be able to see one in your trees or at your bird feeder.

To learn more about these creatures and for some fun videos of them, go to: http://go.osu.edu/flyingsquirrel