# Northern Flying Squirrel (*Glaucomys sabrinus*) The Northern Flying Squirrel is a cute little animal that can glide through the air! It has big eyes and soft fur, making it a special friend of the night. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Northern Flying Squirrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Glaucomys_sabrinus.jpg&width=800) Photo: FWS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glaucomys_sabrinus.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Flying Squirrel has soft, reddish-brown fur on its back and a creamy white belly. It has very large, dark eyes for seeing at night, and a flattened, bushy tail. A loose skin membrane, called a patagium, stretches from its wrists to ankles, making it look distinct from other squirrels. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Glaucomys ## Interesting facts - Northern Flying Squirrels help spread tree seeds and fungi spores throughout forests. - These furry friends 'talk' using chirps, clicks, and hisses in the darkness. - They can flip 180 degrees in the air just before landing on a tree! - They sometimes use old woodpecker holes or abandoned bird nests as homes. ## Special abilities - **Gliding Master:** Northern Flying Squirrel can glide hundreds of feet because of its special skin membrane that acts like a parachute. - **Night Vision:** Northern Flying Squirrel has huge, dark eyes that help them see very well, even on the darkest nights, to find food. - **Directional Tail:** Northern Flying Squirrel can steer itself mid-air because its flattened tail acts like a rudder, guiding its glides. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 22-31 cm - **Weight:** 0.065-0.14 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 19 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-6 - **Gestation:** 37-41 days ## Diet & Feeding Eats a mix of forest treats like nuts, seeds, fungi, and even some insects. - **Primary Foods:** fungi, lichens, acorns, hazelnuts, conifer seeds, insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Spotted Owl (*Strix occidentalis*) — A main predator in some forest regions. - **Eaten by:** [American Marten](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-marten) (*Martes americana*) — A swift ground and tree predator. - **Depends on:** Red Oak (*Quercus rubra*) — Relies on acorns from this tree for food. - **Eats:** Wine-colored Truffle (*Rhizopogon vinicolor*) — An important part of their fungi diet. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Flying Squirrel? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Flying Squirrel? 22-31 cm ### How much does Northern Flying Squirrel weigh? 0.065-0.14 kg ### How long does Northern Flying Squirrel live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Northern Flying Squirrel move? 19 km/h ### What does Northern Flying Squirrel eat? Eats a mix of forest treats like nuts, seeds, fungi, and even some insects. ### Where is Northern Flying Squirrel usually found? Forests ### How does Northern Flying Squirrel hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Mount Elphinstone Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-elphinstone-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Mount Washington State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-washington-state-park) — New Hampshire, US · State Park ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Northern Flying Squirrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-flying-squirrel)