Ep. 278 : Getting to know Southern Flying Squirrels

While out tracking in the new snow the other day I came across some relatively small tracks, reminiscent of a Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) or Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), though small enough to be a Short-tailed Weasel (Mustela ermina). It took a second before I recognized them as Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) tracks.

I have been encountering Southern Flying Squirrels in various ways for a few years, including tracks, scat, feeding sign, live sightings, and I even pet one once, but through all of this, I didn’t know much about them. Hence, inspired by my recent tracking outing, I figured I would take some time to get to know the Southern Flying Squirrel a little better. Hopefully we can learn a little more together.

To learn more :
Mammal Tracks and Sign by Mark Elbroch and Casey McFarland. Stackpole Books, 2019.
The Wild Mammals of Missouri 3rd Ed. by Charles W. Shwartz and Elizabeth R. Shwartz. University of Missouri Press, 2016.
Mammals of Algonquin Provincial Park. The Friends of Algonquin Park, 2018.
Climate change induced hybridization in flying squirrels by GARROWAY, BOWMAN, CASCADEN, HOLLOWAY, MAHAN, MALCOLM, STEELE, TURNER, WILSON. Global Change Biology, 2009.

Just to offer a deeper perspective, I just listened to the Field Guides episode on Flying Squirrels and it was much better than my own. If you want to check it out, here is the link:
https://www.thefieldguidespodcast.com/new-blog/2017/12/31/ep-24-the-flying-squirrel