Flying squirrels are nocturnal, gliding mammals with unique membranes for flight-like moves through the forest canopy. Their agility, social behaviors, and ecological role make them captivating creatures of the night.
Flying squirrels
Flying squirrels don’t actually fly; they glide between trees using a furry membrane called the patagium that stretches between their front and back legs.
Their glides can cover distances of up to 80 meters (about 270 feet), with an average glide typically between 6 and 30 meters.
These nocturnal rodents are highly arboreal, spending most of their time in trees and rarely touching the ground except to forage.
Before gliding, a flying squirrel carefully assesses its distance and trajectory by bobbing and rotating its head.
During flight, they use their fluffy, flat tail as a rudder to steer, brake, and stabilize, allowing sharp turns and precise landings.
They land head-up on tree trunks thanks to a tail flick that helps raise their front body and absorb landing impact.
Unlike most squirrels, flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal and have large eyes adapted for excellent night vision.
They are omnivores, eating nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, small birds, eggs, and fungi.
Many species live in forests throughout North America, Asia, and Europe—including southern and northern flying squirrels in the U.S.
During cold months, they often nest together in groups as large as 20 for warmth and social interaction.
They communicate using ultrasonic sounds and squeaky notes that can be hard to hear for humans.
Young flying squirrels have stripes for camouflage while they mature and develop their gliding ability.
Flying squirrels have vestigial cartilages on their wrists called styliform cartilages that help extend and tension their gliding membrane.
Their agility and speed in air make them very hard targets for predators like owls and snakes.
Flying squirrels are important for forest health as seed dispersers and contributors to the ecosystem.
