Flying Squirrels

These secretive little creatures that glide off into the darkness only come out of their nests when it dark and return home in the wee hours of dusk. This is probably the biggest reason, coupled with the fact that they require a fixed habitat, is probably why most people don’t see flying squirrels.

Nova Scotia has two primary species of flying squirrels, namely the northern flying squirrel and the southern flying squirrel. Both these species are nocturnal, but they differ in pelage, size and of course behavior. Northern flying squirrels are found throughout the country while the smaller southern species are only found in two specific areas: the Kejimkujik National Park and the Gaspereau valley.

However, most people are more familiar with the common red squirrel, but the northern flyers look a lot different. Northern squirrels are roughly three quarters the size of their red cousins and weigh about half as much.

Flying squirrels range from cinnamon to tan to beige in color and usually have a white underside. The end of their tails and their faces are generally gray and they have large eyes that can see very well even in the dark. This however, is not surprising given the fact that they are nocturnal in nature. Flying squirrels are mild mannered and gentle, but when handled in a bad manner they tend to scold in a whiny voice.

The unique features that allow these marvelous creatures to fly would include a flat large tail and a gliding membrane. The gliding membrane is a small fold of skin that is extremely furred and stretches all the way from the wrist to the ankle. To glide, these flying squirrels leap from trees and branches and then extend their limbs so as to form a kite, and this can be done when the membrane expands.

The tail provides extra lift and acts as a rudder and is usually used to help the squirrel get stabilized when it is gliding. In flight, flying squirrels are very agile and are capable of gliding for distances up to 100 meters. They can gain altitude, turn and even avoid branches in mid flight and are capable of making soft landings on the trunks of trees.

Breeding season starts in March and April and their young are usually born in the months of May and June. There are essentially two basic types of nests that are made by flying squirrels – cavity nests and dray nests.

Cavity nests are found in trees and snags with broken or dead branches. These nests are either formed naturally or woodpeckers create them. Dray nests on the other hand are made in dense conifer branches, witches broom, and in places where large branches join together to meet the tree trunks. Such nests are made up of tangled balls of moss, shredded bark and old man’s beard and very similar to the nests used by red squirrels. It is a common sight to see groups of flying squirrels together in the same nest. Apparently, they are extremely tolerant and social with each other.

Fungi, like truffles and mushrooms, appear to be their favorite food. Berries and the seeds of birches are also eaten during season time. for an animal of such small stature, flying squirrels can travel for long distances from their nests. Their habitats are generally found in snags, tall trees, and decomposing logs, as these offer some of the best gliding opportunities. Unfortunately, since most of the older forests in the world are diminishing, flying squirrels are now distributed in patches.

Northern flying squirrels form a very important part of the ecology of the forests in North and Western America. Some of the fungi that these creatures eat form underground. These fungi then form a symbiotic relationship with roots and help these trees obtain vital nutrients that they would have otherwise never received.

However, it is not known whether flying squirrels make the same kind of contribution to the forests of Eastern Canada. But, if this is the case, then the ecological integrity of our older forests will definitely not be the same without the flying squirrel.