Southern Flying Squirrels, Glaucomys volans volans, is one of three species of flying squirrel found in North America, and the species most often found in Virginia.
The term flying is a misnomer, these animals glide rather than fly. The only mammals that can fly are in the order Chiroptera: bats.
This past Thursday, I attended a Flying Squirrel program at Long Branch Nature Center where they have a feeding station and Flying Squirrel boxes. Rachel Tolman, manager of Long Branch Nature Center and an accomplished naturalist and interpreter presented to our group about this adorable animal.
She explained that the flying squirrels we were looking for were of the Southern Flying Squirrel species. There are some Northern Flying Squirrels in Virginia, but not many because our landscape lacks very much of the coniferous forest that they prefer.
Flying squirrels are very territorial except during winter when individuals will share nest-sites for warmth. They also have less options for food and are more likely to come to the feeding station for the delicious peanut butter and nuts that Rachel puts out, so winter is a good time to try to see them.
Rachel told us that, while they are rarely seen (since they are nocturnal and pretty small), there are actually about as many flying squirrels as there are gray squirrels! I found it hard to believe and pretty magical. One way to tell if flying squirrels have visited an area is to look for neat circular holes in acorns or other treenuts.
Another interesting fact about this animal is that they are the most omnivorous of squirrels - eating insects, birds eggs, and even carrion in addition to nuts and seeds.
My good friend and fellow Master Naturalist Kelly Geer captured this video of Flying Squirrels in her attic. It is amazing how fast these animals can move.
Sources and further reading:
https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/southern-flying-squirrel/
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/southern_flying_squirrel
https://armn.org/2018/02/11/flying-squirrels-adorable-little-gliders-in-our-trees/
http://capitalnaturalist.blogspot.com/2015/02/southern-flying-squirrels.html
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