Northern Flying Squirrel

Northern Flying Squirrel is the only kind of flying squirrel on earth along with its brother species Southern Flying Squirrel. The Northern Flying Squirrels are little bigger in size than the southern Flying Squirrels. This species is known to be the only one of its kind, though there are sub-species of this found, Virginia Northern flying squirrel and Carolina Northern flying squirrel.

Picture 1 – Northern Flying Squirrel Eating

Source – www.blogspot.co

Description

Body: Northern flying squirrels have cinnamon or light brown colored furry skin. The mammal is greyish on the two sides of its body and the under-side is whitish.

Eye: The Northern flying squirrels have, compared to their size, very big and wide opened eyes.

Ears: Northern flying squirrels have roundish, tiny, and furred ears on both sides of the head.

Wings: Northern flying squirrels do not exactly fly. They glide with the help of a membrane, as furry as their body, attached to the front-limbs extending to the hind ones. The membrane is called patagium.

Tail: Tail of this species is furry and wide but flat.

Length: An average full grown up Northern flying squirrel is 25cm to 37cm long.

Weight: x.A healthy adult Northern flying squirrel weighs about 110gms to 230gms.

Types

This species of flying squirrel, Northern flying squirrel, are known to be the only of its kinds with two of its sub-species known as the Carolina Northern flying squirrel and Virginia Northern flying squirrel.

Behavior

It is very interesting studying the behavioral traits of this exotic mammal.

• The Northern flying squirrels are usually very social.
• In winter seasons the northern flying squirrels flock in solo-gender groups and nest.
• The northern flying squirrels glide up to a distance of 5mtrs. to 25mtrs.
• The female Northern flying squirrels glide lesser distance than the males.

Distribution

The Northern flying squirrels can be found in south Canada, New England, Great Lakes region, east of Tennessee, west of North Carolina, Appalachian Mountains, southern Pennsylvania, and eastern Alaska. Towards the west of US the species can be found in south of California and Utah.

Life Span

This exceptional species of squirrel live for about 4years. At least the wild ones do not live more than 4years.

Home Range

The female Northern flying squirrels are protective and territorial, unlike the males. If food and shelter is available then the males can be about 10 in numbers every hectare. In general the northern flying squirrels can be found within 0.80hectares to 31hectares.

Habitat

Northern flying squirrels tend to reside in moist and humid areas. However, the species have also been traced widely in areas with fir & mixed hemlocks, spruce, beech maple forest, and areas with aspen groves. These squirrels prefer nesting much higher the ground level, about 1mtr to 18mtrs high. They knit their nests in coniferous trees’ trunks with conifer needles, leaves, feathers, and furs.

Adaptation

The best adapting feature of Northern flying squirrel is their gliding ability. The species are very good gliders. To top it, their four basic sense organ of sight, touch, smell, and hearing are extraordinarily active.

Diet

The Northern flying squirrels are herbivorous in their diet nature. They survive on the typical squirrel diet, eating nuts, fungi, lichens, acorns, fruits, saps, buds, and sometimes birds’ eggs and small insects as well.

Reproduction

Not too minute details are known about the reproductive process of Northern flying squirrels. However, what studies show are :

• Both male and female Northern flying squirrels reach reproductive maturity at the age of 1 year.
• They reproduce once annually.
• They reproduce on the first summer since the time they were born.
• The female Northern flying squirrels give birth to the off-springs from March to May end.
• Each time while reproducing the female species give birth to about 1 to 6 off-springs.
• Usually the time span between conceiving and reproducing is 37 days to 42 days.
• The nascent born Northern flying squirrels do not weigh more than 6grams.
• The nascent ones are born with cylindrical tail, mingled toes, and shut ears and eyes.
• After six days from birth their toes separate.
• Their eyes and ears open up to senses after a month.

Predators

The most dangerous amongst all predators of the Northern flying squirrels are the hawks, owls, weasels, martens, domestic cats, Canadian lynx, red fox and coyotes.

Picture 2 – Northern Flying Squirrel

Source – www.i.pbase.com

As Pets

The following points are advisable before petting a northern flying squirrel.

Legality: Laws of petting northern flying squirrels are different in different states and countries. A state law permit is advisable to take before petting this exotic species.

Housing: Since they are of the gliding genre, they need more vertical space than horizontal carpet area. Artificial prop root like ropes could be hung for them to play and make them feel as much as at-home possible. Nest boxes are needed to be provided in the cage for their natural habitat look.

Water: The Northern flying squirrels should be provided water in a shallow dish, since they have been studied to have problems with drinking water from bottle like containers.

Food: Their diet is very simple and not at all difficult to be provided with their original natural diet. Nuts, fruit seeds, fruits, small insects, sunflower seeds, corns, small worms, moths, etc. occasionally the Northern Flying squirrels can be given boiled eggs and shredded chicken to meet up their natural protein need by these supplements.

Temperament: The Northern flying squirrels have been studied to gel really well with their keepers if being bred in captivity since a very tender age.

Conservation Status: Least Concerned

The two sub-species of Northern flying squirrels, the North Carolina Northern flying squirrel and West Virginia Northern flying squirrel are endangered by now. The main threat to these subspecies is not food, but the environmental changes. The sweeping away of forest lands makes it difficult for the species to find habitat.

The main species of Northern flying squirrel is completely safe in terms of their existence. According to IUCN research, this species come under Least Concerned list.

The US wildlife and fishery department is taking measures to ensure safety of the sub-species’ habitat problem.

• The measures include plans to track down the areas of convenience of the Northern flying squirrels and their habitats.
• Then conserving those areas with appropriate habitat for the Northern flying squirrels.
• Study more about the bio-environmental adaptation capacity of the Northern flying squirrel.
• Then try experimenting with the species under new circumstances and note their response.
• Crop the greenery down without bothering the species and their natural adaptation.

Help to save this species, the only of its kind in the world, for future generations to see them in person, and not just read in books about them. Northern flying squirrels are very friendly creatures and interesting as well. Its sweet squirrel like nature and sharp gliding skills like bats is an amazing combination. Adopt a pair now and experience them in person, also helping to conserve the species.

Interesting Facts

Here are some very interesting facts about this exceptional species :

• Though they are known as the only of its kind of Flying squirrels, they do not really fly. They glide, and they are very good gliders.
• The organ with the help of which they glide is not wing. It is a membrane that stretches from the fore-limbs to hind-limbs.
• In their nascent stage their tails are cylindrical in shape, but when they grow up their tails become furry and flattened wide.
• Their diet is all the same as of usual squirrels.
• The female Northern flying squirrels are territorial, but the male ones are not.
• The species live for not more than four years.
• They reach reproductive maturity at the age of one year.
• They have extraordinarily sharp and sensitive eye sight, hearing ability, and smelling power. They are extremely alien touch sensitive also.
• The only tendency of the species alike other flying animals are that they also tend to nest much higher above the ground level.

Pictures

Picture 3 – Northern Flying Squirrel In Flying

Source – www.nature.ca

Picture 4 – Northern Flying Squirrel On Tree

Source – www.enature.com