Where southern flying squirrels live near bird feeding stations, they also eat sunflower seeds and suet. The inner bark, buds, blossoms, and sap of trees such as the sugar maple are foods taken in the spring.
Fruits, fungi, and some species of lichens are other foods. This species is omnivorous and eats substantial quantities of animal foods more than other tree squirrels and most rodents. These include the flesh of dead animals carrion , birds eggs, as well as live animals which southern flying squirrels capture, e.
Activity and Movement: Flying squirrels are the most nocturnal and arboreal of the tree squirrels. Although they forage on the ground, flying squirrels spend most of their time in trees, where they climb, walk, or run along branches, hopping over obstacles. The flying squirrels ability to glide from one tree to another is unique among rodents.
Before gliding, a flying squirrel bobs and rotates the head, perhaps to gauge the route, and then leaps from a high perch, the feet and cartilaginous spurs extended to stretch the membranes. The airborne rodent sails forward and downward, twisting and turning to avoid branches, the changes in direction aided by a tail which serves as a rudder.
Just as it nears the destination, the flying squirrel gives an upward jerk of the tail to land, head upward. Fleshy pads on the feet cushion the shock of impact, and sharp claws clasp the bark. By climbing onto a higher perch, a flying squirrel can glide to a different tree. A single glide usually covers about 10 m 30 ft , but when initiated from a tall tree and oriented downslope, may extend 80 m ft.
Reproduction: There are comparatively few studies of the reproduction of the southern flying squirrel in the wild. These indicate litters present in April and May and again in August and September. It is not known if the same females produces litters during both periods. The gestation period is 40 days. The average litter size is 3 or 4 extremes, Young flying squirrels weigh g 0. The eyes open at 28 days; weaning occurs at days, and at this age young flying squirrels are fully furred and nearly the same size as an adult.
Throughout their development, females may transport their litters to clean nests. All such holes should be closed to prevent squirrels and other animals from gaining entrance. Be sure that no squirrels are trapped inside.
Adults can cause severe damage by chewing to regain entrance to reach their young. If chewing persists, heavy, half-inch wire mesh can be temporarily placed over the problem area. Trimming shrubs and vines and pruning overhanging tree limbs may discourage squirrels from causing problems in the home.
A squirrel trapped in a chimney should not be removed through the fireplace area because it might escape into the room. Instead, lower a heavy rope down the chimney to provide the means for the animal to climb out.
Drop the other end of the rope to the ground to avoid another trip to the roof to retrieve it after the squirrel has left. The trapping of squirrels can temporarily solve a persistent problem but will not help in the long run because other squirrels will soon come into an area to replace the removed animals. For more information on the management of problem squirrels or for a referral to a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator, contact the Wildlife Division The P-R Program provides funding through an excise tax on the sale of sporting firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment.
The remaining 25 percent of the funding is matched by the Connecticut Wildlife Division. Scientific Name: Pteromyini. Type: Mammals. Diet: Omnivore. Average Life Span: Five years. Size: From three inches to two feet. Weight: 3. Share Tweet Email.
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Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. Meet the people trying to help. Southern flying squirrels are considered one of the most carnivorous squirrels because they supplement their diet with eggs, birds, and carrion.
The northern flying squirrel mates once a year, but the southern flying squirrel mates twice. When the young are born, they rely on their mothers to care for them for two months.
Flying squirrels can live up to 10 years in captivity or about half that in the wild. Flying squirrels are common rodents in many parts of the country, but because they are nocturnal, few people ever see them. Two subspecies of northern flying squirrel are federally listed as endangered due to habitat loss. Base jumpers and skydivers have developed a special suit that mimics the flying squirrel. The suit works to slow their descent and allows them to maneuver through the air.
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