Flying Squirrels

[Jim Stegall]

I understand that the Northern Flying Squirrel is native to North Carolina, but I wonder if anyone knows the extent of that animal's range in the state. I've never seen one (I live in Monroe), but I did have something 'fly' laterally past my head one night and land on a tree a few feet away in the woods behind my house. There was a little moon and starlight, but not enough to see what it was at all so I only had the sound to go by. I've always wondered whether it was a flying squirrel. Also, I recall once seeing a small furry face with unusually large eyes poking out of a bluebird box near that same spot one evening right at dusk. At the time I assumed it was a juvenile grey squirrel, but having now seen some photos of flying squirrels I'm not so sure.

[Carol Buie-Jackson]

I know we have them in Matthews because we have seen them. One got caught in a birdfeeder (I have since thrown it away), so the ID was positive. I think there's an event coming up soon about them and this is one of Chris North's (with NCWF) so he may have more info

[Ernie McLaney]

I have the same curiosity about them, Jim. I would love to know that they are in my neighborhood in Stonehaven and that they visit my yard, but have never seen one. I have not had the close encounters you have had. Some of the local chapters have had "Owl Prowls" but we need a "Squirrel Tour'l" or something. Maybe we could all meet at Carol's place for dinner and sit in her "Florida" room and watch for them. If we bring wine and cheese, I'm sure she and Jay will let us in. :)

[Jim Stegall]

You see, that picture looks exactly like what I saw staring at me out of the bluebird house a few years back. I didn't think "Flying Squirrel" at the time because at that point the only thing I knew about them was that they wore goggles, spent a lot of time thwarting Russian agents, and usually hung around with dim-witted Canadian mooses, or so I was informed as a child. My memory on those points may be a bit hazy.

[Carol Buie-Jackson]

Enough wine and the ones in my backyard are sporting goggles as well! No moose but Ernie's right, bring wine and cheese and we can sit out there all night waiting. But let's let the weather warm up just a bit. Seriously, they are smaller than our gray squirrels so they would easily fit in a bbird house.

[Nancy DeVries]

Hi! We have the Southern Flying Squirrel in Charlotte. I'm a NC Wildlife Rehabilitator and have rehabbed several of the cuties. The only way you are going to see them is if you watch your birdfeeders at night, as they are noturnal. The Northern Flying Squirrel is found in Western NC, in the mountains.

[Ernie McLaney]

I came across this document that discusses their habitat.
How about a chapter meeting topic on these to include building a box house? Then we could all go set them up in our yards and keep tabs on them.

[Steve Schmeiser]

Our Mountain WILD! chapter has been supporting the NCWRC project to research and protect Carolina Northern Flying Squirrels. Chris Kelly is the primary biologist, and several of our members regularly volunteer in the field to capture, measure and weigh the squirrels. Some are fitted with radio tracking collars and little goggles The Carolina Northern is an endangered subspecies that lives at the higher elevations in the Southern Appalachians. Northerns are larger than Southerns and depend on a very different food supply and habitat. Chris and her teams monitor about 800 nesting boxes. Our chapter just completed our second annual box building day on Feb 28. We built 72 new boxes and over 200 front panel replacements for repairs. Our newsletter coming out later this week will have more details and pics.

[Carl C. Spencer]

I have seen them behind my house outside Bessemer City NC. I actually got to hold one very soft ! They were in a wild cherry tree.

[Pete Grisewood]

I have seen them a few times in Charlotte- I'm an Arborist & so have spent extended time amongst trees. The ones I've seen are reddish with white bellies & thier "wing skin" has a rolling, ribbonish edge along thier sides. They were probably disturbed by our presence in thier trees & thats why they chose to fly during the day (to get away from the human intruders). I didn't realize they were normally nocturnal - so I learned something new. Its kind of freaky when they jump from up high over your head & then glide/fly away. then they run & hide real fast! So you are like, "did that really just happen?" "was that a flying squirrel?" "hey you guys, I just saw a flying squirrel!"