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Northern
Flying Squirrel
(Glaucomys sabrinus) |
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| Species facts |
9-17 inches long; tail about 4-7 inches long. |
| How to identify |
Large piece of skin stretches between forelegs and hind legs on both sides. Brown to dark reddish-brown fur; underside is lighter colored. Tail is wide. |
| Habitat |
Conifer forests, especially old-growth forests. |
| Food |
Truffles (fungi dug from the forest floor), which it finds by odor; also eats lichens, seeds, and nuts. |
| Interesting facts |
The flying squirrel does not actually fly. It extends its legs so that the flaps of skin spread out like wings, and it leaps from a high branch and glides to the ground, using its forelegs to steer and its tail as a rudder. |
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