Flying Squirrel

Where They Roam: Habitat and Global Distribution

Flying squirrels inhabit forests across North America, Europe, and Asia. While many people are unaware of their presence, they are surprisingly widespread.  North America is home to the Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels.  The Northern variety tends to favor coniferous and mixed forests across Canada and the northern United States, while the Southern species prefers deciduous forests of the eastern and southeastern U.S. In Asia, the diversity expands dramatically.  The Himalayan region, Southeast Asia, and East Asia host a variety of flying squirrel species, including several giants.  

These forests are thick and lush, offering ample room for gliding and numerous nesting opportunities. The Siberian Flying Squirrel (Pteromys volans) is the only species found in Europe and parts of northern Asia, often inhabiting boreal forests and thriving in colder climates. Regardless of geography, flying squirrels rely heavily on a healthy tree canopy.  They rarely descend to the forest floor and prefer tall, dense woods with overlapping branches. Nesting occurs in tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes, or specially constructed nests of leaves and bark.  These spaces provide shelter during the day and protection from predators and harsh weather.

The Nocturnal Life: Behavior and Daily Rhythms

Flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal, beginning their activity shortly after sunset.  This behavior helps them avoid daytime predators and competition with diurnal animals.  Their large eyes gather available light efficiently, granting them impressive night vision and the ability to navigate in near-complete darkness.

Social structures vary by species.  Southern Flying Squirrels, for instance, are known for their sociability and may nest in communal groups, especially in winter to conserve warmth. In contrast, Northern Flying Squirrels tend to be more solitary outside the breeding season.  Communication is subtle, involving a combination of high-pitched ultrasonic calls, scent marking, and body language.

Gliding is not just a party trick—it’s a critical mode of transportation.  By moving through the air rather than the forest floor, flying squirrels reduce their risk of encountering predators like foxes, owls, and raccoons.  They also expend less energy than if they were leaping branch to branch.  When a squirrel leaps, it stretches out its limbs to unfurl the patagium and adjusts its tail and limbs mid-air to steer and brake.  Upon landing, it scurries up the next tree to launch again, rarely stopping for long in one place.

What’s on the Menu: Diet and Foraging

Flying squirrels are omnivores, but their diet consists primarily of plant-based foods.  They feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, lichen, bark, and buds, with seasonal shifts depending on what’s available.  Insects, bird eggs, and even small nestlings occasionally supplement their diet. Fungi play an especially important role in the lives of many flying squirrels.  Northern Flying Squirrels are particularly known for eating truffles—subterranean fungi that form symbiotic relationships with tree roots.  

As they dig up and consume these fungi, the squirrels spread spores through their droppings, aiding forest regeneration and the health of the trees they inhabit.  This makes flying squirrels key players in the forest’s nutrient cycle and one of the few mammals contributing directly to fungal propagation. Foraging takes place primarily during the early part of the night.  Squirrels may travel across vast areas within their home range, gliding silently from one feeding area to the next.  Some species also store food in caches within their nests or in hidden tree crevices to survive through winter months or food-scarce seasons.

Courtship, Family, and Raising the Next Generation

The mating season for flying squirrels varies by region and climate but typically occurs once or twice a year.  In North America, Southern Flying Squirrels may breed in both late winter and midsummer, while Northern Flying Squirrels often have a single breeding season in early spring.

Mating involves vocalizations, chasing, and scent cues.  Once pregnant, the female prepares a secure nest and gives birth to a litter of two to six young after a gestation period of about five weeks.  The babies are born hairless and blind, entirely dependent on their mother.  She nurses and protects them for several weeks, and they begin to venture out of the nest at about six to eight weeks old.

Juvenile flying squirrels learn to glide early, typically practicing short controlled leaps under their mother’s supervision.  They stay with her until they are capable of foraging and gliding on their own.  After independence, they disperse to establish their own nesting sites. Parental investment is high, especially in species where gliding skills must be learned. The mother’s role is crucial for the survival of the young, and she may continue to share a nest with them for additional warmth and protection even after weaning.

Stealth and Survival: Predators and Threats

Flying squirrels face a variety of predators, but their nocturnal habits and gliding abilities give them unique advantages.  Owls, especially the barred and great horned owl, are among their most formidable threats.  These silent flyers share the same hours of activity and can swoop in silently.  Terrestrial predators like raccoons, snakes, and even domestic cats may also target them when they are near or on the ground. Their primary defense is agility and stealth.  Flying squirrels rarely vocalize in a way humans can hear and move almost silently through the treetops.  

Their glides are quick and unpredictable, making it difficult for predators to anticipate landing spots.  In dense forests, their ability to disappear into foliage provides further concealment. Human-induced threats include habitat loss from logging, agriculture, and development. Since flying squirrels depend on mature trees for nesting and gliding, fragmented landscapes pose significant challenges.  Loss of tree connectivity limits their ability to forage and escape predators, and a lack of old trees reduces nesting options.  Roadways, light pollution, and climate change can further disrupt their routines and reduce survivability.

Ecological Importance and Contributions

Though small and rarely seen, flying squirrels have a significant ecological impact.  Their role as seed dispersers and fungal propagators is critical to forest health.  By spreading the spores of mycorrhizal fungi, they directly support the symbiotic networks that sustain trees.  These relationships enhance nutrient exchange in soil and improve tree resilience. Their presence also supports the food web.  Predators like owls, foxes, and weasels depend on flying squirrels as part of their diet. In turn, the absence of flying squirrels from an ecosystem can indicate a breakdown in forest structure or maturity, making them useful bioindicators. Flying squirrels also influence the genetic diversity of tree species.  Through their foraging and caching behavior, they spread seeds far beyond parent trees, helping forests adapt to changing conditions and fostering regeneration in disturbed areas.

Flying Squirrels and Humans: Curiosity and Conservation

Despite their benefits, flying squirrels are often overlooked in conservation discussions. Their elusive nature means they aren’t typically seen by casual hikers or backyard birdwatchers.  Still, public awareness is growing, thanks in part to trail cameras, wildlife photography, and educational outreach by forest biologists and conservation groups. In North America, the Southern and Northern Flying Squirrels are not currently endangered, but regional populations face increasing pressure.  In the Appalachian region, habitat fragmentation and competition with other squirrels, such as the introduced gray squirrel, are concerns.  The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus) is federally listed as endangered due to its limited range in the southern Appalachians.

In Asia, several flying squirrel species are more vulnerable.  The Red Giant Flying Squirrel and the Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) face habitat loss and poaching in parts of their range. Conservation efforts include habitat protection, community education, and reforestation, often led by local organizations and supported by international wildlife networks. Responsible forestry practices, maintaining canopy connectivity, and protecting mature trees are key strategies for flying squirrel conservation.  Citizen science also plays a role, with enthusiasts reporting sightings, installing nest boxes, and documenting gliding activity to help researchers track populations and behavior.

A Creature of Quiet Wonder

Flying squirrels invite us to imagine a different world—a nighttime world of silent flight, whispering leaves, and canopy trails mapped by instinct and memory.  They live their entire lives just out of reach, their stories unfolding in twilight, far from the spotlight of typical forest dwellers. They are not showy or aggressive, nor do they seek attention.  Yet their role in nature is profound, balancing ecosystems, supporting trees, and enchanting those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of their aerial grace.

To understand flying squirrels is to understand the interconnectedness of forest life. These night gliders are not only marvels of evolution but also subtle reminders that nature’s wonders often happen when we’re not looking.  So the next time you stand beneath a dense forest canopy, take a quiet moment to look up—and wonder what might be watching from the shadows above, waiting for the stars to rise.