Northern Flying Squirrel

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Northern Flying Squirrel

The Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) is one of two species of the genus Glaucomys, the only flying squirrel

Flying squirrel

The flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of squirrels . There are 43 species in this tribe, the largest of which is the woolly flying squirrel ....
s found in North America

North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
(the other is the somewhat smaller Southern flying squirrel

Southern Flying Squirrel

The Southern Flying Squirrel is one of two species of the genus Glaucomys, the only flying squirrels found in North America . It is found in deciduous and mixed woods in the eastern half of North America, from southeastern Canada, to Florida, USA....
, G. volans). Flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal. The Northern flying squirrel is found in coniferous and mixed forests across the top of North America, from Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is the largest U.S. state of the United States by area; it is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait....
to Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada located on Canada's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada....
, south to North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north....
and west to California

California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
. Populations from the Pacific Coast of the United States are genetically distinct from those of G.

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Encyclopedia

The Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) is one of two species of the genus Glaucomys, the only flying squirrel
Flying squirrel

The flying squirrels, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a tribe of squirrels . There are 43 species in this tribe, the largest of which is the woolly flying squirrel ....
s found in North America
North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost totally in the western hemisphere....
(the other is the somewhat smaller Southern flying squirrel
Southern Flying Squirrel

The Southern Flying Squirrel is one of two species of the genus Glaucomys, the only flying squirrels found in North America . It is found in deciduous and mixed woods in the eastern half of North America, from southeastern Canada, to Florida, USA....
, G. volans). Flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal. The Northern flying squirrel is found in coniferous and mixed forests across the top of North America, from Alaska
Alaska

Alaska is the largest U.S. state of the United States by area; it is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait....
to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada located on Canada's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada....
, south to North Carolina
North Carolina

North Carolina is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north....
and west to California
California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
. Populations from the Pacific Coast of the United States are genetically distinct from those of G. sabrinus found elsewhere in North America, although they are considered to belong to the same species. Two subspecies
Subspecies

In biology, subspecies is the taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a species. A subspecies is a taxonomic group which is less distinct than the Common descent or species from which it originates....
are found in the southern Appalachians, the Carolina Northern flying squirrel, G. s. coloratus, and the Virginia Northern flying squirrel G. s. fuscus, both of which are endangered.

The nocturnal, arboreal rodents have thick light brown or cinnamon fur on their upper body, with a furry membrane which extends between the front and rear leg that allows the animal to glide through the air. It's greyish on the flanks and whitish underneath. They have large eyes and a flat tail. They can also be identified by their long whiskers, common to nocturnal mammals. The adult northern flying squirrel measures from 25 to 37 cm long, and their weight can range from 110 to 230 grams.

A major food source for the squirrels are mushrooms]]l fungi (truffle
Truffle

A truffle is a fungal fruiting body that develops underground and relies on mycophagy for spore dispersal. Almost all truffles are ectomycorrhizal and are therefore usually found in close association with trees....
s) of various species, although they also eat lichen
Lichen

Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiosis association of a fungus with a Photosynthesis partner , usually either a green algae or Cyanobacteria ....
s, mushroom
Mushroom

A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, hence the word mushroom is most often applied to those fungi that have a stem , a cap , and gills on the unde...
s, all mast-crop nuts, tree sap, insects, carrion, bird eggs and nestlings, buds and flowers. The squirrels are able to locate truffles by olfaction
Olfaction

Olfaction refers to the sense of smell. This sense is mediated by specialized sensory cells of the nasal cavity of vertebrates, and, by analogy, sensory cells of the antennae of invertebrates....
, though they also seem to use cues such as the presence of coarse woody debris, indicating a decaying log, and spatial memory
Spatial memory

In cognitive psychology and neuroscience, spatial memory is the part of memory responsible for recording information about one's environment and its spatial orientation....
of locations where truffles were found in the past. The northern flying squirrel is also known to cache food for when food supplies are lower. These caches can be in cavities in trees, as well as in the squirrels' nest. Lichens and seeds are commonly cached.

The Northern flying squirrel nests in holes in trees, preferring large-diameter trunks and dead trees, and will also build outside leaf nests called dreys. They sometimes use cavities created by woodpecker
Woodpecker

Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks....
s. Suitable nest sites tend to be more abundant in old-growth forests, and so do the squirrels, though harvested forests can be managed in ways that are likely to increase squirrel numbers. Except when rearing young, the squirrels shift from nest to nest frequently. They often share nests. In one nest, over 50 individuals were found co-habitating, although usually nests contain 2-5 individuals. The sharing of nests by flying squirrels is important in maintaining body temperature in the winter, as flying squirrels do not hibernate. In the winter, northern flying squirrels tend to live in conifer areas of mixed woods, while in summer they are found in conifers and deciduous areas. This behaviour is associated with the belief that the canopy cover is important in protecting the squirrels from predation and colder temperatures. In all but the most severe weather conditions, the squirrels are active year-round.

Home ranges are up to 40,000 square metres for females and 50 percent higher for males.

Northern flying squirrel gliding distances tend to be between 5 and 25 meters, though glides of up to 45 m and longer have been observed. Average glides are about 5 m less for females than for males. Glide angle has been measured at 26.8 degrees and glide ratio
Glide ratio

Glide ratio, also called, Lift-to-drag ratio, glide number, or finesse, is an aviation term that refers to the distance an aircraft will move forward for any given amount of lost altitude ....
at 1.98. When the flying squirrel lands after a glide, it often will move sideways to the opposite side of the tree to escape potential predators that may be in pursuit.

In the Pacific northwest, the squirrels breed once per year, in May or June. In southern Ontario, polyestrus behavior has been documented.

Northern flying squirrels, along with pine squirrel
Pine squirrel

'Pine squirrels' are squirrels of the genus 'Tamiasciurus'. Currently only two species are classified in this genus, the American Red Squirrel T....
s, are an important prey species for the endangered Spotted Owl
Spotted Owl

The Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis, is a species of typical owl. It is a resident species of forests in western North America, where it nests in tree holes, old bird of prey nests, or rock crevices....
Strix occidentalis. They also disseminate spores of the ectomycorrhiza
Mycorrhiza

A mycorrhiza is a symbiosis association between a fungus and the roots of a plant. In a mycorrhizal association the fungus may colonize the roots of a host plant either intracellularly or extracellularly....
l fungi that they eat, and these are essential to many species of conifer and some deciduous trees. Other predators include various other owl
Owl

The Strigiformes are an order of bird of prey, comprising 200 species. Most are solitary, and Nocturnal animal, with some exceptions . Owls mostly hunt small mammals, insects, and other birds, though a few species specialize in hunting fish....
s, especially the Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus, is a large Typical owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas....
, hawk
Accipitridae

The Accipitridae is one of the two major family within the order Accipitriformes . Many well-known birds, such as hawks, eagles, kite , harrier and Old World vultures are included in this group....
s, the American Marten
American Marten

The American marten is a North American member of the Mustelidae family, sometimes referred to as the Pine Marten. The term Pine Marten is also used to refer to a separate Martes species from Europe....
, the Canadian Lynx and the Red Fox
Red Fox

The Red Fox is a mammal of the order Carnivora. In the British Isles, where there are no longer any other native wild canids, it is referred to simply as "the fox"....
.

Also they are known for their flight.

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