Fly Like the Wind!

The Adirondacks are home to many different species of animals, and the constant human presence in the region allows for close monitoring of many of these species. One species that I often wonder about is the flying squirrel. Being a student at Hamilton College affords me ample opportunities to observe squirrels, and so I have become more attuned to the activities of squirrels in general. However there are no flying squirrels on the Hamilton campus, so they naturally pique my interest. Fortunately, flying squirrels do live in the Adirondacks.

            The first unique aspect of the flying squirrel is that it is nocturnal. In fact, it is the most common nocturnal tree dwelling mammal in the Adirondack Park. Most other squirrel species are diurnal, which makes it slightly easier to spot flying squirrels, as they are likely the only squirrels roaming around during the Adirondack nights. The flying squirrel is distinct from other squirrel species due to the loose fold of skin, called a patagium, which extends from its front to hind legs and is connected to its sides. The patagium allows the flying squirrel to glide forward and descend slowly after leaping from trees. In addition to the patagium, the flying squirrel has a wide and flat tail, which, in addition to assisting in gliding, plays a large role in allowing the squirrel to alter its flight path in order to more accurately land on different objects. Additionally, the flying squirrel is unique from other squirrels because it is omnivorous, while most other squirrel species do not eat any animal matter.

            In the Adirondacks, there are two separate species of the flying squirrel: the southern flying squirrel and the northern flying squirrel. The southern flying squirrel is the smaller of the two species, and generally remains in lower elevation forests, while the northern flying squirrel is more resistant to cold temperatures, and therefore can be found throughout different types of forests, regardless of their elevations. It can be difficult to determine the species of a given flying squirrel, as besides the slight size difference, the only main distinguishing factor is a slight color difference.

            The flying squirrel is a unique and interesting creature, which is quite different from any other animal in the Adirondacks. Though they can be difficult to spot, if you are ever in the Adirondacks after dusk and see a small dull gray squirrel, you may indeed be observing the elusive flying squirrel.

Sources

http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2012/07/adirondack-wildlife-the-flying-squirrels.html