All Comments: Southern Flying Squirrel

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.

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

I see Annonymous has Climbed up on a soap box about Flying Squirrels not to be kept as pets, that they belong in the wild. Well my most intelligent friend so should be cats, dogs, horses... Have u ever heard of DOMESTICATED? Do u have any idea the average lifespan of a flying Squirrel in the wild? They are eaten like Popcorn out of my oak grove by the hawks and bats! I have a male that I took from a bird that had nearly killed him. I have had him for 3 years and we tolerate each other quite well. He certainly eats better than in the wild. He is never hungry, cold, or lacks companionship. Without intervention he would be dead long ago. So I ask what is the harm of prolonging the life of the little rodent? Every day I go down to the oak grove and see tons of dead flying squirrels. I guess I am being EVIL for caring for this one and not feeding him to the Hawks!! Gee Get a life and worry about something real...

I’ve got a Southern Flying Squirrel named Rocky; he was blown out of a tree when he was about six months old. We didn’t have to bottle feed him, but he did bond to the family. Rocky is now five years old, his favorite games are shirt diving and running on his wheel, he likes to run on it then hold on and spin round and round. He likes to eat anything from ice-cream cakes to acorns; we don’t feed him junk food very often just on special occasions. I love my squirrel even though he dose like to make messes and eat my bug collection. For all those who do want a Southern Flying Squirrel make sure he gets plenty of attention and love. Also if you have a cat or a dog that likes to chase squirrels I wouldn’t suggest you get a squirrel. We had a cat and he tried to eat Rocky so we got rid of the cat. Southern Flying Squirrels do make a mess and they will sing during the night sometimes, if you can’t hear high pitch your ok. All in all for everyone who loves small, soft little critters then a Southern Flying Squirrel is a good pet to start out with.

I have a pet Southern Flying Squirrel,his name is Rocky. I found him after a bad storm. His eyes still closed, I fed him via syringe with Kitten Milk Formula until his teeth came in. He is now almost a year old. In his large, tall cage, is a Calcium Salt Lick, but I add Repti Cal to his meals every night. He gets a variety of things to eat... cooked ground chicken/turkey, Mealworms, and raw Veggies/Fruits like: Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Kale, Green Beans, Apples, Grapes, Blueberries, Strawberries, and Blackberries. Nuts with shell on for his teeth: Peanuts, Pecans, Walnut, Pistachios, and lots of acorns off the trees found where I found him. He is my buddy and hangs out with me most of the day and evenings. At night he goes wild! I got him a Rodent Wheel from Sun Coast Sugargliders with the sand paper in it to keep his nails trimmed. Recently he has started to bite! I think it is because it is the beginning of mating season and he is frustated. :o(

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.

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?

I got my squirrels about a month ago. A man who had gotten them when their nest was blown out of a tree had raised them. He had gotten into trouble and had gone to jail. I was going up and feeding them every other day (round trip of 30 miles) and then found out he was going to be gone for a year and a day. Also, he was keeping them in a curio cabinet. Well, we built a nice big cage and brought them home. We feed them well and they seem to be doing very well. They are very sweet but we don't try to handle them, I'm not sure that they are hand-tame or not. However, I have raised three gray squirrels and released them to the wild, but these two were too habituated to the house and wouldn't last a day outside. Squirrels, as a rule, aren't very good pets because they simply aren't adapted for life inside a house. However, these wouldn't be safe outside, so I think it's best that they live indoors.

On Southern Flying Squirrels, no, I don't really care that some government hack feels that I need a permit to save a blinded animal from a house cat. As for those of you that feel that I should care, please note that I regularly shoot deer and grey squirrels with a crossbow. If I want to save a tiny little critter from a cat, then I will. If I'm paid to shoot a bigger critter to keep it from eating fascia, I'll do that too. If you have a problem with that, apply for the position of God - since she's dead, I'm sure you'll get right in. When you get that spot, I'll be happy to listen to you. Until then...

Anybody care that it is ILLEGAL to possess or care for a S. Flying Squirrel without a state issued permit from a game warden? I don't see any of anyone having a permit from any of the entries. S. Flying Squirrels are wild animals and belong in the wild, not kept as pets. Editor's Note: Like many of the exotic animals, in some states they are legal and in others they are not. Some states and/or communities may require permits or licensing to own a Southern Flying Squirrel. Be sure to check with the authorities for your city, county, and state. Checking with your city hall, town or county office, and the US Department of Agriculture and other government offices, such as the Fish and Game Department, can lead you in the right direction. Also check with the health department for any regulations they may have.

My cat Uno was chasing a 5 week old baby flying squirrel. I was mad at him and saved the squirrel. It's a boy, and his name is Alvin. He is so cute, I've only had him for a few days but my mom and I are taking good care of him. I'm hoping to save more.

Me and my husband found and raise a southern flying squirrel. We been taking care of this amazing creature for 5 months now. We grown very found and are now thinking of breeding and raise more.

I got my flying squirrels from a job my husband did on a roof. The mother went of and left them so he brought them home. I didn't know what I was going to do. But now I would not take anything for them, they are my babies (lol). My 9 year old gets jealouse of them (lol). They want to be on me all the time. I had a cut from the dog and the squirels licked it like you see dogs do. They checked on it every day (I quess they call it grooming me, from my hands and to my arms. Now it has healed and never made a scab or left a mark. I was really surprised by that. I would recommend the Flying Squirrels to any one that is home a lot. When you are having a bad day they will make it bettter. I was going through depression, they helped my out without any meds.

Today I found some very tiny flying squirrels outside. Their mommy got crushed on the road so I brought them home. I fed them cat replacement milk and they are doing fine=). I think one is a boy and the other is a girl.

Our cats brought our little baby boy squirrels to us in Sept when they were pink and tiny. I fed them the recommended formula and now they are cute and tame, flying from one of us to the other off a cleaned branch in the living room, occasionally stopping to drink some coffee and eat a cookie. We put little doll santa hats on them and took a picture for the Christmas card this year! They are called Alpha and Omega and we hope to have them forever. I would love to have a female, but have never seen them in the wilds around here.

I am very close to Orlando and was gone this past week. When I got home last night my husband showed me what he found walking around in my sewing room--a baby flying squirrel. He is soooo cute! We think he came in the house the other night when my husband opened to back door to let the dog out (about 11pm) I have never seen them in the wild! I am giving him the formula that I used on other orphaned squirrels and have had success with. (The recipe came from a vet). I have been researching them online for about 3 hours and have read so many positive things about them. I am going to keep him as a pet! I cant find a nest in the trees, so I dont know how far from home he is. I love him already! Better go, its time for his next feeding....

On Thursday September 28,2007 I got a call from my cousin Dillon. He said that his sister Harley(my other cousin) and he had found a baby squirrel on my Nana's front porch. At first they wanted to keep it but they decided that since they didn't have the stuff to take care of it that they would let me have it. So my mom went and picked it up. Since it was late the feed store was closed, so she picked up some evaporated milk just for the night. That night I went online and found out that it was a Southern Flying Squirrel. The next day we got up and went to the feed store to buy a syringe and some Esbilac milk replacer. That night she opened her eyes, so I went online and tried to find out how old she is, it turned out that she is four weeks old. I have had her for four days now and she eats like a pig and she can now run around on the floor and climb around on my hands and arms. She is the sweetest thing, but mom and dad tell me and my sister Hanah not to get attached to it just in case something happens to it, so we haven't named her yet.

My friend is very close to her flying squirrel, as well as a certain owl :)

Hi Im Annie and i have 1 of these cute critters! His name is Twiggy and i jut love him to pieces. i take him out every night and let him run around my room (make sure when you go to let them run around that you cover all the holes!). they are very fun to keep, everyone should have one! He even hugs my finger!

I just moved into this house in Owensboro, KY (in the city) this year and there was a bird house on a tree out front. I was walking my dogs one night and saw a little pair of eyes and whiskers sticking its head out of the hole. I thought....well crap, I have a mouse in my bird house. I tapped on the box and this little flying squirrel came out and clung onto the side of the tree. I was amazed! I had never seen one in the "wild". Then another little head popped out and then I realized that I had a pair of flying squirrels taking up harbor in my bird house. I am hoping to have a nest full of little baby flying squirrels sometime soon! These creatures are cool!

I am a Verizon (formerly Bell Telephone) cable splicing technician. Flying squirrels are keeping me in business. They absolutely love the splice closures on our main telephone lines. They chew holes in them and then move in, and while there they chew the small wires inside, which puts people out of phone service, which brings me to them when I troubleshoot. We now have 2 of them (sisters) as pets, which I plucked from a splice when they were just pinkies. Their mom was not happy and kept coming at me. She would climb high in neighboring trees and soar down and THWACK onto the utility pole right next to me. It's very cool to watch. I have disturbed many of them, and some are so used to seeing my fellow splicers and myself in their nests that they just stay in there and look at you while you piece-out the wires. Our pets are in a large bird cage, and we let them out to "fly" around the living room sometimes. My wife dropper-fed them for weeks when we first brought them home, which was alot of work, around the clock, but worth it in the end. We are in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

I just got a flying squirrel today and it is very very cute, although it is shy at first it should soon be a close and good pet. They are very sociable animals and very good pets. i love it, and it is very shy though

I have one that I have saved from a tree fall, his name is Flip and I love him . He gets up about 1100rpms and will not take a breather till around morning. I feed him yogart covered raisons. corn, almonds(his favorite) and mixed nuts. sometimes veggies. Wil

I belive I saw one on the Boston Common this evening. Quite a sight, this little white critter flying tree to tree in the ambient street lights. Never thought I would see one in Boston Common, of all places.

Flying squirrels are adorable! I never knew they existed until one friend told me to learn about them in a science lesson lol.

flying squirrels are so friendly and cuddly. they are so fun to have and they are playful. mine always hides in the hamper or in my closet. he is so cute, i would NEVER sell him for a life time.

Late one night as I lay sleeping, I felt something near my head. At first, I though it was our cat, who when he can get into my room, will rub his head next to mine. But, all of a sudden, it jumped over my head and sat on the pillow next to me. From the soft light of the clock radio, I could see the faint outline of a small creature and not knowing what it was, I screamed! Whatever it was jumped off the bed. It got up and turned on the light to find this small rodent running around the room. It did look like a squirrel but was the size of a chipmunk. It ran up the curtains and down, then up the small tree in the corner of the room, then it came to rest on a basket near my CD player which was playing nature sounds...babbling brook, etc. It sat there and looked as if it wanted to sleep...and was all tired out. I was baffled. I didn't want it to slip under the door. At first, I put socks on my hands thinking I might grab it, but then thought it could still bite through the cloth. It then moved to my desk and ran up it and sat there. I moved over to the window, opened it, took off the screen and then moved a small chair up to where it was sitting. It got onto the chair and I put the chair up to the open window. It looked out into the dark night as if to adjust it's eyesight, then slowly departed. This sweet creature that had come down the chimney, touched my heart. I was sad to see him or her go.

We found a flying squirrel in a fallen tree. We didn't even know what it was until we went on the internet and looked it up. I was surprised to know they existed. I never seen one until now. It is sooooooooo cute and loves attention. We all love the little guy already. It has only been in our home since last weekend and already spoiled rotten.

i have a flying squirrel named snuggles because he stays in my clothes and snuggles. his favorite thing to do is eat pecans and sleep. i love him so much. they are the best pets you can have. i rescued mine from he wild when he was just about 4 weeks old. he is so cute!

Flying squirrels are amazing pets! I have only had mine about a month now and I am so blessed to have him. With all exotics, however, they do require more work than a cat or dog so be sure that you are ready to commit before you get one. Make sure also that you have spent many hours researching the care of the pet and are as knowledgeable as possible before acquiring one. The best resouce of the internet regarding flying squirrels is www.nfsa.us. That is the National Flying Squirrel Association. It is intended for current or potential pet owners to learn about and share experiences regarding pet flying squirrels. There is a ton of information on the messageboard and you can post any questions that you have for speedy responses. I would reccomend to anyone planning on getting a flying squirrel, anyone just interested in learning about them, or anyone who already has one to join the messageboards.

They are horrible when you want them they gliding around.

Flying squirrels are sooo cute! I don't own one, but am hoping to get one soon!!

my southern flying squirrel is a sweetheart! his name is chewey. my laborador, ruby, brought him into the yard on one very nasty and rainy day. she was pushing him around in a puddle while he loudly protested. upon trying to release chewey onto a huge oak tree in my yard-which i soon realized was not going to be successful- i brought him in the house to let him dry off and rest with the full intention of letting him go as soon as possible. looking closer it was easy to see that chewey was a very young squirrel, not more than 10 weeks old. once the poor thing realized that we werent going to hurt him he stopped trying to bite and began to allow us to hold him. we used gloves at first but now the only time i use gloves to touch chewey is when im ready to put him back in his enclosure and hes not ready to go. boy does he chirp his disapproval! chewey is about 19 or 20 weeks old now and has really bonded with me. hes really alot of fun to have around!

In november I got my very first flying squirrel. It is a little girl and i love her so much. she is so cute. her name is Faline(like in the movie Bambi!). we bonded very fast. I take her everywhere with me, she is so good. We play hide and go seek and when i find her i tap her on her nose and she goes runnig to hide again! we have such fun together.s he is my baby and i love her so much. :)

I just recently got my squirrel. I automatically fell in love with him. His name is Rocky and my grandmother found him in her wood stove. She couldn't keep him so she gave him to my uncle, who, unfortunately, couldn't keep him either. So, he asked me if I wanted him. Of course, as an animal lover, I said I'd ask my mom. Mymom fell in love with him, too, and said we could keep him. I was a little afraid of him at first, because he was wild, well, we thought he was wild. But my uncle tried to let him go, but the next day, my grandmother found him in her cupboards, so to my house he went. Just the other day, I was going to clean his cage, and I went totake him to put him in his excercise ball, when my mom stopped me and took the cage intothe bahtroom. I followed her, and watched her carefully. She slowly opened his cage and reached in. Rocky got scared and started to dart about the cage, but my mom just slowly followed him with her hand. She finally got him and he got away.He ran around the bathroom, andI couldn't help but laugh. She finally caught him, and she held him close to her chest. She then said, "Open your pocket." I obeyed and she carefully put him in. He stayed and caught his breath. I reached in, and patted him. He still stayed right where he was.Without even thinking, I wrapped my hand around him, and pulled him out. He didn't squirm, he just looked ta me. It may not seem like much to those of you that hold your squirrels all the time, but it was something big to us. It was a big step in taming our new wild friend.

on september 20,2005 my little sister found something on my trampoline and was crying because she didnt no what it was. my mom told my top go check it out and i did. there was a little baby flying squarrel. its hair wasnt even fully grown out and its eyes werent even open. weve had it now a little over two weeks and we have been feeding it baby formula. its hair has grown out and its eyes opens last week.

My husband brought home two tiny baby flying squirrels a little over a year ago. What an experience! It was a boy/girl pair, the boy was slightly smaller and seemed almost runt-like compared to his sister. At first we knew only to keep the babies warm, so we did, with a heating pad set on low. Every two hours for a couple of months we (I) dedicated to the squirrels. Princess, the girl, crawled beneath the heating pad and died. We couldn't believe it. Schizzei, the boy, was such a strong willed little guy. He grew up to be the MOST loving, bonded pet you could ever imagine. We invented games, 'tickle-monkey' was his favorite. He would crawl down my arm and look me in the eye with those beady little doe-eyes, when I didn't notice he wanted to play the game he would make noises to get my attention. I would then lightly tickle him and he would go crazy!! He would run across my back to the other arm and back and sometimes on my head. What an adorable baby he was, and what a reward for all the love I poured into him. When the socks won the World Series my husband jumped up and sat back down on him, one of the most devistating moments ever, for me.

I LUV LUV LUV Flying squirrels!! Ever since my first trip back to my country i've always wanted another one. Im from Vietnam so the flying sqirrel was common in south east asia. My uncle gave me a baby Flying squirrel that was simular to the southern one here...but it ran away(sob). SO when i went back here i was delighted that Virgina had flying squirrels (yay!

My mother had a flying squirrel in college. His name was "Modie" because her brother found him in a commode in a bathroom at the lake. She loved him and he was a great little pet. She slept with him (oops) and rolled over on him in the night. In the morning when she went to look for him under the sheets, there he was flat as a pancake. She would talk about this experience with sadness all of my life growing up. Because of her stories about "Modie", I would love to have one for myself. Hope you enjoyed this story. Robin Chenault in Virginia

I have a male and female bought both from a pet store as adults, and they werent tame. After 3 yrs the male is a great little pet and so active at night. They are kept in a large bird cage, a parakeet breeder cage with branches and a parakeet nest. But since we keep them in a small extra room, we let them free at night. They both get run of the room at night. It has non-wood steel shelves and a steel table, a squirrel proof room. The female is a bit skittish. Comes close but wont jump on me like the male and just relax and explore my pockets. I imagine captive bred babies must get as tame as a dog. If you have the room for a large cage they are great. A tank is a horrible way to keep them, as some sites say, as they need to climb and both will glide from shelf to shelf. They are great pets and I think in their case two might be better than one. A M/F get a long great (I have a feeling two of the same sex wouldnt) but mine have never had any young. Perhaps too old when we bought them but great pets. Luis