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Northern Flying Squirrel - (Glaucomys
sabrinus)
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January
1, 2011 - We first noticed flying squirrels in
December of 2009 and now get to enjoy their
antics all year long. We added even more
Christmas flood lights last November attached to
the Grandgirls' former play shed (10' X 16'),
now dubbed the bird food pantry. These lights
cast much illumination on our side yard maple
tree, the apparent home of our little friends.
A further change was the addition of some
branches we drilled and hung in several places
throughout the yard. Bark Butter from Wild Birds
Unlimited is stuffed in the randomly placed
openings. Because this is such a popular treat,
the branches are often refilled twice a day. The
flying squirrels, singly or in pairs (and in
summer two adults and two babies) have happily
added this food to their peanut nugget diet. |
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December
1, 2009 - We had set up outdoor lighting (really
Christmas flood lights) giving us a view of most
of the feeders in our side yard. After dark we
wouldn't see any birds, of course, but could
catch the antics of skunks, opossums, raccoons
and rabbits. Glancing out the window (not really
looking for an early visit from Santa) I saw a
peculiar creature clinging to a peanut nugget
feeder.
He had a ridge of fur-covered skin connecting
his front foot, down his side, to his hind foot.
My first thought was that this could be a bat,
but the large flat tail suggested otherwise.
After snapping several rather blurry pictures, I
grabbed my mammal reference books. I then had
to debate whether this was a northern flying
squirrel or a southern one (his accent didn't
give him away). Both of these squirrels can
claim our area of upstate NY home territory. |
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The
differences seem to indicate our little guy is
the northern variety: color of fur (more
cinnamon than gray), underbelly (grayish not
white) and general size (12 inches compared to
the southern's 9 inches).
Further observations and the flash on the new
birdcam have shown we have at least a pair of
these gliders and that they come to our feeder
almost every night. They seem to eat so little
that we and the peanut nugget eating birds don't
mind the flying squirrels' midnight snacks. |
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Size: |
Body Length: 6.5 in |
Tail Length: 5.5 in |
Weight: 4-6.5 oz |
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ID:
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Male: Upperparts
warm brown; underparts including under
tail is cream to gray; pataguim is
ringed on outside with black fur
(membrane connecting fore and hind legs
extending from hands to feet, that can
be spread like a parachute for gliding);
at rest the flaps are folded at the side
of the body; tail is broad and flat
(colored like body but with dark tip);
long dark whiskers, large black eyes;
gray cheeks; rounded, naked ears
Female: Similar to male
Juvenile: Slight coloration difference
to adult fur; tail not as thick and dark
on the underside |
| Habitat: |
Forested areas,
coniferous, mixed or stands of hardwoods
containing snags with lots of potential
nesting holes |
| Diet: |
Nuts, berries, buds,
cherries and insects (may store some
food for winter), and bird eggs, mice
and carrion; our visitors prefer peanut
nuggets at feeders; fond of evergreen
cones, lichen and fungi (helps
regenerate forest areas by dropping
spores); may take food from storage
areas of red squirrels. |
| Family Behavior: |
Mating Habits: One
litter late April to June (mate in March
or early April); male driven off before
birth of young, but builds a small
nearby nest for himself; only female is
territorial
Nests: Natal nests built of leaves and
twigs, lined with feathers, fur,
shredded vegetation, lichen, grass or
pine needles
Baby: 2-4 born without fur (most of body
covered at 7 days), weigh .18 oz, blind
(eyes open 31 days after birth), ears
folded over and sealed (erect 2-6 days
old), fused toes (separated at 6 days),
weaned at 60 days; fed milk then soft
insects and twigs; molt at 12 weeks to
full fur coverage; may stay with mom
over winter (mastered gliding and can
care for self at 4 months)
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| Activities: |
Only nocturnal
squirrel (active after sunset and right
before dawn); mostly arboreal and rarely
leaves the trees; doesn't fly but
travels mainly by gliding from tree to
tree (up to 100 feet); glides by
spreading and stretching glide membranes
that connect the front legs and hind
legs; returns to upright position to
slow down and land while using his flat,
furry tail as a brake and rudder, with
back feet landing first; remain active
year round; usually solitary, but may
share nest (aggregate) for warmth in
winter and may also share nest boxes in
cold weather; uses diurnal (day time )
nests called refugia found 8 to 20 feet
high in tree cavities; dreys (nests made
of twigs and leaves on branches) used
for warmer days; all nests are kept
clean; will not excavate own nest (known
as secondary cavity nesters); spend time
grooming; molt in autumn |
| Predators and
Dangers: |
Owl and hawk, fox,
bobcat, marten and weasel |
| Sounds: |
Communicate mostly
with each other by scent and touch, but
can make sharp squeaks and chirps and
soft chirring sounds. |
| Range: |
Northern California
to Alaska, across most of Canada, below
the Great Lakes , across New England and
down through the Appalachians. |
| Lifespan: |
3-6 years |
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