Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel
By: Ryan Gray
Habitat & Range
- Found mostly across Canada and the northern United States
- Range extending southward in the great mountain Chains of North America
- North Carolina is the farthest south - they are isolated in small populations on the highest mountains
- Wet climates
- Trees (ex: Sugar Maple & Red Spruce)
These squirrels have bright cinnamon brown colored fur on the surface, gray fur around the face and at the end of the tail, and bicolored gray fur with a creamy white tip on the stomach. The most distinctive feature is the loose skin that stretches from its wrists to its ankles and forms the membranes on which it glides.
Appearance
Northern flying squirrels are restricted to the highest elevations (4000-5000 ft.). They are on average 11-12 in. long and weight between 3 and 4 oz.
Specific Niche
- Nocturnal (emerge from their dens just before dust to search for food)
- Sail from tops of trees and glide to the base of a nearby tree
- Keen sense of smell
- Gliding ability
- Spends most of its time walking on the ground and digging for truffles
- Trees need mycorrhizal fungi to grow, and the fungi needs an animal to disperse their spores (which is what the squirrel does)
- Female squirrels give birth to 2-4 young in the spring
- Open their eyes after 1 month!
- Main predators are owls, hawks, martens, weasels, coyotes, and the domestic cat
Why Endangered?
- Habitat destruction
- Fragmentation
- Deforestation
- Introduction of pest species
- Mineral extraction
- Recreational development
- Pollution
- Potential for global warming
Change in Carrying Capacity
Due to natural climate change and human intervention into their habitat such as land clearing, the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel population was decreasing. However, their population rate is now stable, and many websites and organizations are changing their status on these animals to least concern!
Future Prognosis
Due to the leveling population, the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel will most likely soon be recognized by government organizations as a least concerned species. So, they will hopefully keep on gliding along for a much longer time!
How Can Humans Help?
- Do not disturb them or their nests
- Volunteer to check flying squirrel boxes and/or build them
- Join a conservation organization
- Donate to the NC Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund