They especially like areas with seed-bearing hardwood trees like hickory, maple, beech, and poplar. The southern flying squirrel lives in deciduous and mixed forests with lots of old trees with cavities for nesting. The southern flying squirrel is found in New Hampshire. It is also found in southeastern Canada and in Mexico and Central America. The southern flying squirrel is found from Texas, Kansas and Minnesota east through most of the eastern United States. As the southern flying squirrel approaches its landing site, it pulls up, slowing its descent! When it is gliding, it uses its tail as a rudder to change direction. SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL SKINWhen it stretches out its legs, this skin forms a kind of parachute that lets the squirrel glide from branch to branch. It has a loose fold of skin between its front and rear feet. It has very large eyes and a long, flat tail. It has thick, silky grayish-brown fur above and white fur below. The southern flying squirrel is smaller than the northern flying squirrel. They can be hard to spot due to their nocturnal nature.ICUN Redlist - World Status: Least Concern Here in Bella Vista Southern flying squirrel enjoy our mature woodlands with plenty of woodpecker holes. Will enter homes in late fall, occupying attics, external walls, and between floors, using insulation as nesting material. Habitat: Nests in natural cavities and woodpecker holes. The most carnivorous of the tree squirrels, the Southern Flying Squirrel feeds on. The Southern flying squirrel glides by fanning out its body to reduce falling speed and alternately moving their front and back legs to control which directions they fall. Characteristics: Gray-brown fur, white-colored belly, and large dark eyes. Agile and extremely surefooted aloft, it is relatively clumsy on the ground. Because they are nocturnal, they are rarely. Since they forage from the tree canopy to the forest floor, they use large flaps of skin to glide which aids in forage speed. The Southern Flying Squirrel is found throughout Maryland, especially in wooded areas with lots of hardwoods. Southern flying squirrels favor old woodpecker holes as nest sites, but they may build a summer nest of leaves, twigs and bark. They are especially adept at helping to reduce beetle infestations in bark. Unlike the Fox and Grey squirrel, they eat moths and beetles regularly. They forage for nuts, fruits, buds, tree bark, and mushrooms like other squirrels. Southern flying squirrels live in the same habitat and eat the same food as Fox and Grey squirrels, so to reduce resource competition, they forage at night when these other squirrels are sleeping. They can have 4 to 6 kits in the spring and sometimes another litter in late summer. They nest high in trees in hollowed out holes which are usually old woodpecker dens. They can fit into a hole the size of a quarter, so have a lot of options for dens. More specifically, they prefer old forest with dead or rotten trees to nest in. Southern flying squirrels favor large dense deciduous oak-hickory forests with full, mature trees and are especially numerous near water. The southern flying squirrel is native to the eastern half of the U.S. Southern flying squirrels are widespread in the eastern United States, but they are of interest in Nebraska because we are on the edge of their range. There is no difference in appearance between males and females. Additionally, the hair on their tails is fanned out horizontally to aid in gliding. Smaller back flaps also connect their back ankles and tail. These skin flaps (pataguim) run between the front and back ankles. They are distinguished from the grey and fox squirrel by their larger eyes, longer limbs, and flaps of skin between legs that allow them to glide. They have large black eyes and their tail is flattened. Description: A small tree squirrel containing a very soft, grayish-brown fur coat with a blackish undercoat (shown when hairs parted) and a white belly (hairs are white to the base). Their fur is soft and silky with a gray-brown overcoat and white undercoat. The Southern Flying Squirrel is a nocturnal rodent, occurs state-wide and is Tennessee's smallest tree squirrel. Southern flying squirrels are the size of a chipmunk, between 8 to 12 inches in length, with tail, and weigh 1 to 5 ounces.
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