Flying Squirrels

​      The Flying squirrels should be called the gliding squirrels. The squirrels can glide from tree to tree because they have a membrane between their front and back legs. When they want to glide they spread out their limbs so that their gliding membrane is showing. They will use their legs to steer and its tail to brake with.
      There are two native flying squirrel species that are found here, the Northern and Southern flying squirrels. The southern flying squirrels are found in the eastern part of the U.S. They like to eat a variety of food; nuts, insects, fruits, seeds, etc. They are nocturnal, which means they are active at night.
      Their predators are; tree snakes, owls, hawks and mammals that can climb. They can live for about 5 years in the wild or around 10 years in captivity.
       In the winter months many squirrels will nest together to keep warm. The southern flying squirrels will mate twice a year and the northern ones once a year; it is the mothers that will care for the young ones, for about two months. The shading of colors on the squirrels are from the lighting I had to use to take their photos in the dark.