Southern Flying Squirrel

Breeding:
Mates in early spring; 2-7 young born after gestation of 41 days. Often second litter August-September, usually by females not breeding in spring.

Sign:
Hickory nuts with a smooth opening at the thin end (White-footed Mice make 2 or 3 openings, Red Squirrels make a rages opening, and fox and gray squirrels crush the nut).

Habitat:
Various deciduous forests such as beech-live oak.

Range:
Eastern U.S.) Except for n New England and s tip of Florida) east of Minnesota, e Kansas, and e Texas

The flying squirrels are the only nocturnal tree squirrels. Although it is active in all season, the Southern Flying Squirrel may remain in its nest in very cold weather and will enter torpor in times of extreme cold or food scarcity. The state of torpor is not as deep as true hibernation, but the animal’s body temperature can drop to 22°F and it may take up to 40 minutes to wake. They flying squirrel does not truly fly, but glides though the air, up to 80 yards or more, from the top of one tree down to the trunk of another. It flies with its legs outstretched and the fold of skin between fore let and hind leg acting as a combination parachute and sail. Just before landing, it drops its tail and lifts its forequarters, slackening the flight skin, which then serves as an air brake. It lands very lightly on all four feet, and at once scurries around the other side of the tree trunk, in case a predator has followed it flight.