Animal-World > Small Animal Pets > Pet Squirrels > Southern Flying Squirrel

Southern Flying SquirrelAmerican Flying Squirrel

Family: Sciuridae

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"Tinkerbell"Glaucomys volansPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Kym Johnson

     These intriguing little squirrels have a large fold of furred skin stretching from their forefeet to their hind feet which they spread out like a parachute and glide from tree branch to tree branch, thus their name "flying squirrel"!

     The Southern Flying Squirrel or American Flying Squirrel is the squirrel most commonly found available in the U.S. pet trade. They are the littlest of the squirrel species with only a 3-4 inch long body. Their tiny size, along with a natural tendency to want to rustle around or even snuggle up and sleep in your pocket, makes the Flying Squirrel a perfect "pocket pet".

     At first, Flying Squirrels are very shy when meeting new people. A young squirrel that has been raised in captivity or taken from its mother at weaning time will accept handling the easiest.

     Flying Squirrels are nocturnal so after sleeping all day, these little fellows will be very playful and full of energy from dusk to dawn. To keep their muscles strong they not only need places to play, but need a regular opportunity to glide. Putting your pet up on a high shelf and letting it glide back to you will be rewarding for both of you!

For more information about the care of Flying Squirrels see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Squirrel

Scientific name: Glaucomys volans

Background:      Southern Flying Squirrels are found mostly in the Eastern part of North America, inhabiting parts of Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Description:
     Southern Flying Squirrels or American Flying Squirrels are just 7-8 inches long (with 4" of that being the tail), and they weigh just 3 ounces when fully grown.
     Flying Squirrels have a furred membrane of skin that stretches from their forefeet to their hind feet which allows them to glide from tree branch to tree branch, thus their name "flying squirrel",
     Their fur is silky and has soft dense undercoat. Their overall appearance of their fur is mostly rusty-brown or grayish-red, with a lightly colored underbelly. But upon close inspection the hair is a actually a mixture of several colors including gray, red, and beige, and there is a soft gray undercoat.
     They rest in the hollows of trees during the daytime, and will search the treetops for food after dark. Their natural foods consist of insects, birds' eggs, nuts and various kinds of fruits.
     They not only have 20 regular teeth, but like all rodents, they have sharp incisors that continually grow, and will need hard chews to keep them worn down.
     The female will produce a litter of three to six young twice a year.

Interesting Facts:      - The furred membrane of skin they can stretch out parachute like,enables
            them to glide for long distances through tall trees - sometimes up to160
           feet! They often make sharp turns just before landing.
     - Flying Squirrels are nocturnal, meaning that they sleep during the day and
           are active at night. This means they have to watch out for night predators,
           such as owls.
     - They live in very tall trees since their primary means of traveling is by
           gliding, and they are awkward on the ground. They don't have to worry
           about ground predators, but they do have to be wary of such animals as
           hawks.
     - With their natural instinct being to save up foods for the winter, they are very
           active hoarders. Make sure to check their nest regularly to discard any
           perishables!
     - Besides needing to chew regularly to keep their incisors trim, Flying
           Squirrels need extra calcium. Sterilized bones and pieces of deer antler
           work great for both these needs.

Dr. Jungle chuckles...."wow Tinkerbell sure livens up her new family's life!
"This was her first Christmas. My husband and I love her just like a daughter. She is so cute! Tinkerbell loves to play on our curtains in the living room, coming down to play with us or see if we have something to eat!"	Tinkerbell is a female Southern Flying Squirrel. "One of her favorite foods is sugar snap peas. Of course she also loves cashews, pecans and whole un-shelled peanuts. Tinkerbell has a ferret sized wheel in her cage which she runs in at night while we are asleep. Recently she likes to play this game in the living room where she climbs up high on the curtains and "flys" to me. We do this over and over again. She never gets tired!! When she gets bored she will climb inside my shirt and nip at me until I play with her. We just love her so much! My life would be so boring without her. I can't believe how lucky we are to have her."...Kym Johnson
Photos Courtesy: Kym Johnson

Author: Jasmine Brough

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Latest Comments
I don't know where to list this but..I need help. Our outside cat got ahold of a flying squirrel. I live in Middleburg Florida. It seems to be fine on the outside she/he is moving around but kinda of balled up like she is trying to sleep. I think the cat just wore him out. I don't know. We tried all day to catch the thing on the porch but we couldn't get it. Now we have it in a box all soft an cozy. I don't know if it is young or not. I don't want it to die and I have no money for a vet. Help me help this critter please. Reply hope 2010-02-06
Replies (4) Is the squirrel doing better and still on your porch? My cat brought in a Flying squirrel as well and we had to catch it on our porch too (it swam across the whole pool and jumped and FLOPPED a LOT) and now it's been my pet living in my bathroom for 3 months! I wonder if he wants a buddy!? If your squirrel isn't hurt (I thought my guy was hurt too) and you still have him, they don't need much maintenance for health up-keep and their diets are fairly simple and they actually adapt to their human owner pretty quick w/ patience! ... Sarah I was wondering if your flying squirrel is still doing ok? I would like to find out how to get in touch with you if you still have him. I live in Jacksonville and have done wildlife rehabilitation for years and would be more than happy to meet up with you and take him rehabilitate him and release him when he is ready. ... tess My animal is so cool, southern flying squirrel.... lila Would come and get it at your convience. Have raised them in the past. I just lost Rocky last month he was 9yrs old. So I would be willing to come now.... Chris
I lost my buddy pocket. I need to get another flyer. Please, if you know where I can get a female... thank you Reply Carolyn 2010-01-17
I am also looking for a female flying squirrel as a companion for rocky my male flying squirrel. I raised him from just a few days old. I got him and his sister from my son that tore a nest up while cleaning his grandmother-in-laws gutters. I lost the female by over feeding her then letting her drink too much milk. I was broken hearted because she had become very tame and loving. Rocky is very tame and loves attention. If any one ever has to raise one the best milk I have found is goat's milk. They seem to be able to digest it better than anything else I have ever tried. I have raised many babies on it from kittens, puppies, squirrels and even possums. Reply Betty Roden 2010-01-16
I would like to buy a female flying squirrel. Reply Carolyn 2010-01-07
dixie. I would love to obtain one of your flying squirrels Do you still have them Reply Danny 2010-01-05
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Some of the bestest comments - here's the beef!
Hi all you Flyer Lovers! I'm a wildlife rehabber on the east coast and have been for 13 years. It was interesting reading your comments on this website. As a matter of opinion I'd like to say that while I am an advocate of releasing back to the wild any animals that we can help, I also advocate captivity in certain circumstances. My only trouble after all these years, is the failure of some folks to get educated on keeping wild animals and their lack of commentment to keeping that animal for the duration of its life. Even though most wild animals can be somewhat humanized, they will still stay wild to a certain degree. It takes many centuries to fully tame a species. However I have found that my little flyers do so well in captivity that its plain to see why they make good pets. So I know what its like to want to keep them and also know how to set them free. As long as a person is willing to provide everything these animals need, then I feel they are much better to have as pets in the U.S.A. than some exotic species from other countries that doesn't have any business being here. They make great pets and all animals were wild at some point as one of you have said. Reply victoria 2009-11-02
Replies (1) I totally agree, with you Victoria, I personally think if the animal can be released and survive, that it should be...after all the wild is what they know, and I feel they should be free...I watch them in my back yard every night and enjoy them very much...just watching them be free... joann... joann
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Questions - Answers
I have a group of southern flying squirrels living in my attic. I don't want to harm them, and would love to relocate them. how do I go about capturing them to relocate them? They range from brown to grey, and all have white bellies. I think there is atleast 4 in there now. Any help would be appreciated. Reply Julian 2010-02-28
I am desperately looking for a good cage to house my flying squirrel that will give him a lot of room to play. I am also trying to find a real good source of food and information, can anyone help me out. I have named my squirrel Airistotle and right now he is getting acclimated. We have two dogs and two cats, so I need to keep him safe. Reply ROCKY 2008-12-01
I just acquired a flying squirrel, which is not native to my state. It is definitely an adult, if I am to go by the size and description. Does anyone have any good advice re: raising them or what the best food/books would be for information? Reply ROCKY 2008-11-26
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Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
We found an approx. 5 week old flying squirrel 10/9/09, and after reading up on them did our best to care for him. The local wild life authority said we could keep him. He was doing great(on low fat milk), but after I started him on formula from a local pet store he died. We are broken hearted. We had bonded with him so quickly I feel awful that maybe I did something wrong. When he was on the milk he was looking much better than when we had first found him. Don't know what I did wrong, but know I saved him from all of the hawks, owls, etc. we have around. Would love another one, reading more about them all of the time. Thank you for your wonderful web page. debbie Reply Debbie Tsikuris 2009-10-15

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