Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans

These secretive little rodents are rarely seen because they only come out at night. They do not really fly, as the name implies but are excellent gliders. A membrane between the wrist of the front leg and the ankle of the hind limb allows these animals to glide considerable distances from tree to tree. The tail acts as a rudder to help steer. They live in tree cavities, attics, bird nesting boxes or any other suitable high nesting spots. They are never found far from their food sources: hickory nuts, acorns, wild grapes, bark, seeds, insects, lichens or fungi. Flying squirrels do not hibernate but do nest together in groups to stay warm in the winter.

Savannah River Ecology Lab researcher Tom Risch has studied the reproductive habits of flying squirrels in South Carolina for several years. These rodents breed in the early spring and fall. They typically have two to five young which are less than three inches long from nose to tip of tail and weigh less than a fifth of an ounce. Tom has found that the most common predators of adults and young include owls, snakes (especially rat and corn snakes) and raccoons. Flying squirrels are a great example of the abundant hidden biodiversity in the southeastern U.S.

Southern Flying Squirrel 

This information is provided as a public service by the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Outreach Program.