Nature Note: the Southern Flying Squirrel
By Joe Settles

These nocturnal creatures are easy to identify. They are normally 8–10” long (that includes a 3–5” tail), and they have very large eyes that help them see at night. They are grayish on top and whitish beneath, and they have two large folds of skin along their sides. These folds of skin are the giveaway, and the reason they have the name “flying” squirrel.

The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) does not actually fly – it glides. They received the name flying squirrel because of the way they travel through the forest. When they emerge from their tree, they jump and glide down to the base of an adjacent tree using the large folds of skin to catch the wind and “glide” through the air. The tail is used as a rudder to guide the animal through the trees, and it allows them the maneuverability to make 90-degree turns if needed. They land at the base of the tree, climb up, search for food and then jump and glide to the next tree – “flying” through the forest.

Southern flying squirrels are cavity nesters in forested areas throughout the state. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects, and they store food in cavities like other squirrels. Breeding takes place in January or February and they give birth to usually 3 or 4 and as many as 7 young 40 days after breeding.

If you live in a large wooded area, you can build a nest box to attract them to your home. A variety of nest box designs can be found on the internet. Place the nest box 10-30 feet high on the trunk of a tree near your house. Usually a good knock on the tree will awake them, and they will look out the hole to see who is making noise. If you are out in the woods at night, and you hear high pitched “cheeping” noises you are probably walking below a group of the social critters.

We often come into contact with these cool looking squirrels when we are conducting biological surveys for bats before constructing new rights-of-way. To catch bats we place fine nets called mist nets in road corridors through the forests. The flying squirrels often glide into our nets, and get tangled. We have to help them out of the nets, and it usually goes pretty well. I have been bitten a couple of times, and although it is not pleasant, it is not a completely horrible experience either. I hope everyone gets an opportunity to experience these amazing mammals in Kentucky.

Joe Settles is a biologist with Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives