PHOTO
BY
JOEL
SARTORE
Southern Flying Squirrel
A Mammal Brief
By Lindsay Rogers,
Outdoor Education Specialist
Glaucomys Volans
Contrary to their name, these
small mammals cannot fly but
rather glide between trees.
Found in hardwood forests –
like those along the Missouri
River in extreme southeastern
Nebraska – flying squirrels scamper
to the top of a tall tree and leap then
glide to the next tree. They are nocturnal
creatures and spend much of their day sleeping in cavities and nest boxes among the trees. Like most tree
squirrels, flying squirrels are omnivores that eat nuts, seeds berries, insects and occasionally eggs.
Southern flying squirrels are excellent "flyers" due to a large, fur-covered membrane which extends
between their forelimbs and hind limbs and serves as their "wings." They also have a large flat tail which
serves as a "rudder." When they jump from the top of a tree, they extend their limbs to create a parachute,
thus the gliding rather than flying.
Young flying squirrels are born naked and remain under their mother's care for 65 days – an unusually
long time for a mammal of this size. Young do not become entirely independent for four months and may
stay as a family unit throughout the winter months. ■
10 NEBRASKAland • OCTOBER 2016
