Flying Squirrels
Flying Squirrel Information
Flying squirrels are social mammals and have been observed flying, foraging, and nesting together in large groups.
Flying squirrels do not technically fly. They glide through the air using a membrane called a patagium, which stretches between their front and back legs.
When a flying squirrel wants to travel, it climbs to a high point such as a tree trunk and launches itself into the air. As it spreads its legs, the patagium acts like a parachute or wing, allowing the squirrel to catch air and glide from tree to tree. Flying squirrels can typically glide 100 to 150 feet, and under ideal conditions, their gliding abilities can exceed 200 feet.
For homeowners, flying squirrels often become a concern when they gain access to attics. Because they are primarily nocturnal, you may hear scratching, scampering, or gnawing sounds overhead after dark. Their ability to glide enables them to access rooftops, soffits, and other elevated areas that may be difficult for other wildlife to reach.
Pictures of Flying Squirrels in the House
What do Flying Squirrel Look Like?
Flying squirrels are the smallest of all squirrel species. They have light brown fur, dark stripes running along their sides, and lighter cream-colored fur on their bellies. Small rounded ears and large dark eyes give them an attractive appearance. When they leap from tree branches, they extend their arms and legs and allow their webs of skin to catch the air. Flying squirrels use their furry tails for steering when in flight. The rodents rarely exceed 10 inches in length.
What do Flying Squirrels Eat?
Similar to other types of squirrels, flying squirrels mostly feed on nuts, berries, and fruits, which are available to them without leaving their tree homes. Their carnivorous tendencies lead them to regularly eat baby bird eggs, as well as insects and the occasional small animal.
Where Do Flying Squirrels Live?
There are three species of flying squirrels that live in the forests of the United States. The Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) lives from southeastern Canada to Florida. The Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) are not as common. Their range mostly consists of Alaska and Canada, but extends southward into northern California, Colorado, Wisconsin, and the higher altitudes of eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Finally, the Humboldt's flying squirrel (Glaucomys oregonensis) lives along the Pacific coast and the Pacific Northwest.
When Are Flying Squirrels a Problem?
Flying squirrels prefer to nest in warm, enclosed cavities during the winter and spring. Flying squirrel nests can include hollowed-out tree sections, crevices, bird boxes, and abandoned bird nests.
The most common times homeowners experience a flying squirrel problem is during the winter and spring.
During the winter, they live in large colonies that huddle together to keep warm. It has been observed that 25 Southern flying squirrels live in one nest during the winter.
Flying squirrels breed in early spring and need a safe, secure place for their young. On average, three to four pups are born. Young are born blind and helpless, but by six weeks, they’re foraging on their own.
Evidence of Flying Squirrel Infestation
Most Common Signs of Flying Squirrel Infestation
- Noises in the attic
- Droppings in the attic
- Nests in insulation
- Odors from urine and feces
- Visible entry gaps
- Grease marks around access points
- Sightings of flying squirrels outside after dark
You are most likely to notice a flying squirrel problem in the winter or the spring. At Trutech Wildlife Service, we find that nighttime attic noises, droppings, and nesting activity account for the vast majority of homeowner complaints about flying squirrel infestations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do flying squirrels actually fly?
No, flying squirrels do not fly like birds or bats. They glide using a special membrane called the patagium that stretches from their wrists to their ankles.
How can I tell if I have flying squirrels in my attic?
Common signs include scratching or gliding noises at night, droppings, nesting material, and visible entry points near the roofline or vents.
Are flying squirrels dangerous to homes or property?
Flying squirrels primarily eat nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and insects. They may also raid bird feeders or stored food in homes if they get inside.
What is the difference between a flying squirrel and a sugar glider?
Flying squirrels and sugar gliders look almost identical at first glance. Both animals have large eyes, fluffy tails, and are only about six inches long. They also have a thin membrane of skin that allows them to take long, gliding leaps from tree to tree. However, that’s where the similarities end.
Flying Squirrels
- Live across the Eastern U.S. and in patches along the West Coast
- Have gray-brown upper bodies and light-colored bellies
- Care for babies in nests after birth
Sugar Gliders
- Found wild in Australia or in the exotic pet trade in the U.S.
- Display a distinctive, dark gray stripe down their backs
- Keep young in a pouch after birth
In fact, despite their appearance, these pests are actually part of different families. Sugar gliders are marsupials, not rodents, and more closely related to kangaroos than flying squirrels.
Are flying squirrels dangerous to homes or property?
Yes, flying squirrels can be a nuisance if they enter attics or walls, where they may chew wires, insulation, or wood, and leave behind droppings and urine.
Can flying squirrels be relocated or removed humanely?
Professional wildlife control services can humanely trap and remove flying squirrels and seal entry points to prevent reentry.
No, flying squirrels do not fly like birds or bats. They glide using a special membrane called the patagium that stretches from their wrists to their ankles.
Common signs include scratching or gliding noises at night, droppings, nesting material, and visible entry points near the roofline or vents.
Flying squirrels primarily eat nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and insects. They may also raid bird feeders or stored food in homes if they get inside.
Flying squirrels and sugar gliders look almost identical at first glance. Both animals have large eyes, fluffy tails, and are only about six inches long. They also have a thin membrane of skin that allows them to take long, gliding leaps from tree to tree. However, that’s where the similarities end.
Flying Squirrels
- Live across the Eastern U.S. and in patches along the West Coast
- Have gray-brown upper bodies and light-colored bellies
- Care for babies in nests after birth
Sugar Gliders
- Found wild in Australia or in the exotic pet trade in the U.S.
- Display a distinctive, dark gray stripe down their backs
- Keep young in a pouch after birth
In fact, despite their appearance, these pests are actually part of different families. Sugar gliders are marsupials, not rodents, and more closely related to kangaroos than flying squirrels.
Yes, flying squirrels can be a nuisance if they enter attics or walls, where they may chew wires, insulation, or wood, and leave behind droppings and urine.
Professional wildlife control services can humanely trap and remove flying squirrels and seal entry points to prevent reentry.