Flying Squirrel

Flying Squirrels usually live in wooded areas and make their nests in trees. They usually enter homes in the late fall as the evening temperatures drop to nest for the winter. Their playful nature and nocturnal habits are what gives them away as homeowners either hear them scurrying around in the attic or coming and going after midnight.

Color:	Gray brown fur on top, darker sides & light underbelly
Legs:	4
Shape:	Rodent like with bushy tail, large concave eyes
Size:	Head & Body length 4 to 5 inches, Weight - 6 to 10 oz
Antennae:	No

Habits

Flying Squirrels do not actually fly, but rather glide. They have a flap of skin/fur that runs between their front and rear feet which they extend when they jump. They will normally have two litters of young per year in the mid summer and early spring. The number of pups per litter will vary but there are usually between 2-7 pups per litter. They feed on nuts, seeds, bulbs, insects, fruit and other items.

Habitat

Flying Squirrels will build nests in trees but prefer to nest in dead trees and other voids. They will also enter and nest in the attics of homes and sometimes in an exterior wall or between floors using insulation as nesting material.

Threats

Flying Squirrels can do considerable damage to exterior trim and siding as they widen a current hole or make a new hole to enter the structure. Once in the structure they can and will gnaw on electrical wiring possibly causing a short and causing a fire. They can also be carriers of fleas, lice and other unwanted organisms that will infest the structure after being brought in by the squirrel.

Prevention

Flying Squirrels are protected game animals in many areas. They can be prevented from entering the structure by performing exclusion methods which entail using metal flashing or metal mesh to cover any and all possible entry routes while the animal is out foraging during the day.