If you have other pets in the home, flying squirrels are not likely to cohabitate well with them and may even be in danger from cats, dogs, and even ferrets and large birds.(Photo: Prattikppf/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0). If not raised as babies and tamed, they can be nervous about handling and can bite if they feel stressed. A view of a southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) gliding overhead.Flying squirrels dont hibernate through the. They are nocturnal, so you may need to spend time with them at a time of the day when they're awake, but you may be wanting to wind down and end your day. The Southern Flying Squirrel is found in the eastern third of the state among groves of dense deciduous forests, especially the native oak-hickory community. The Northern and Southern Flying Squirrel species in the United States dont hibernate, but they do snuggle.Utah requires a permit for Northern flying squirrels.You can have one in these states with a permit: Most of the Southern Flying Squirrels range is east of the Mississippi River, but it occurs west of the river in central Texas, and as far south as.Only Southern flying squirrels are illegal in Utah.Depending on where you live, you may not be able to have one.You may have difficulty finding a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about their medical care.The downside to their ability to connect emotionally with their owners is that they can become fixated on you and become stressed if they cannot be with you. While they're smart enough to be trained to do some things, they cannot be house-trained.They are relentless chewers and can be destructive if not given enough appropriate items to chew.They can be quite costly to purchase with the average flying squirrel price ranging between $250 and $600.Their cage needs to be tall enough for them to move around and to glide, but with small enough openings to keep them from getting out or hurting themselves.They have specific care requirements that may be difficult to provide, including a large living area compared to other small pets.Its soft, silky fur is mostly gray on top and white on the bottom. Their large eyes enhance night vision, enabling them to navigate between trees in the dark.There are clear disadvantages to owning a flying squirrel that make them a pet only suitable for certain types of people. Southern Flying Squirrel Scientific Name Glaucomys volans Family Sciuridae (squirrels) in the order Rodentia Description A chipmunk-sized rodent with large dark eyes, a slightly upturned nose and large ears, all of which make it look a little like a mouse. These adaptations not only allow them to glide from upper to lower branches with ease, but also enable them to glide up to 250 feet and make 90-degree turns in midair. Their wide and flat tail is used for guidance. They have a special flap of loose skin between the wrists and ankles stretches out to resemble a parachute. Of course, flying squirrels do not actually fly. Although nuts make up the bulk of the flying squirrels diet, they are one of the most omnivorous of squirrels- feeding on everything from flower blossoms to. These are unusually long periods for animals this size one theory is that the extended time spent with adults helps them master their “flying.” The young nurse for two months and are independent after four months. After a period of gestation lasting forty days, the female gives birth to an average litter of two to three young. However, little is known about the species’ courtship and mating practices. They mate in February and March, and then again during June and July. They are beneficial to woodlands through their dispersal of acorns and nuts, and by their dispersal of certain fungi that are beneficial to tree root systems.įall is also the end of the southern flying squirrel’s second young-rearing season. (One sure sign that your woodland has southern flying squirrels is the presence of gnawed hickory nuts at the base of large hickory trees.) Additionally, they will consume bird eggs, insects, and carrion. It includes nuts and acorns, seeds berries, fruits, leaf buds, fungi, and bark. Autumn nights are the best time to observe these squirrels, because they are particularly active as they gather food for the winter.
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