Flying Squirrel Factoid

Flying squirrels, also known scientifically as Pteromyini or Petauristini, are a collective of 44 types of squirrel critters.

These squirrels are incapable of sustained flight but they do like to glide between trees and are credited with flights recorded to 90 meters. The direction and speed of the critter in midair is varied by changing the positions of its arms and legs, which changes the tautness of the patagium, a sorta membrane that stretches from wrist to ankle... kinda like a built in parachute. They has fluffy tails that acts as an air brake before landing on a tree trunk.

Flying squirrels are nocturnal, flying at night ‘cause they’re not adept in escaping birds of prey that hunt during daylight. Their mating season is between February and March. When the young ones are born, the female squirrels live with them in maternal nest sites and they nurture and protect them until they leave the nest.

Flying squirrels can easily forage for food in the night, given their highly developed sense of smell, where they hunt for fungi, nuts, fruits and bird eggs. Gliding conserves energy and makes ‘em more mobile as well as very interestin’ critters to watch.

The largest of the species is the wooly flying squirrel. The two species of the genus Glaucomys are native to North America while the Siberian flying squirrel is native to parts of northern Europe, called Pteromys volans. Thorington and Hoffman recognize 15 genera of flying squirrels in two sub-tribe categories in their amazin’ book “Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference” ~ D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder editors. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

 
“Most of the flyin’ squirrels I've met tend to be Pentecostal and if they aren’t lookin for the rapture they seem to have their head in tha clouds dreamin’ about Republican Family values. I don’t think I’ve ever knowed a flyin’ squirrel who’s been down to earth.”
~Marty~

Among all the squirrels in the country, (flying squirrels) are the most easily tamed. The boys carry them to school, or wherever they go, without their ever attempting to escape; if even they put their squirrel aside, it leaps upon them again immediately, creeps either into their bosom, or their sleeve, or any fold of the clothes, and lies down to sleep.”

Quoted from “Travels Into North America”   By John Kalm 1772

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O sweet September, thy first breezes bring the dry leaf's rustle and the squirrel's laughter,

The cool fresh air whence health and vigor spring

And promise of exceeding joy hereafter.

~ George Arnolds ~

At Kent State University, Ohio, the black squirrel is a pop-culture symbol and icon. It is the unofficial mascot of the school. The legend suggests that all the black squirrels originated in 1961 from 10 original squirrels that were transported to the campus from northern Canada. There has been an annual Black Squirrel Festival since 1981.

Gray squirrels can eat up to three ounces of food per sitting... that averages about a pound and a half of food per week. Considering the weight of the average squirrel is generally 1 ¼ to 1 ¾ pounds in size, this is a huge amount of food. For example, one of you 150 pound human critters would have to eat 150 pounds a week to match the appetite of a squirrel. That’s about 600 Mickey D’s quarter pounders in the same stretch of time... or somewhere around 85 burgers a day. Dang!

No single attribute makes us squirrels as resourceful as we are. It’s a combination of physical and behavioral adaptations that give us the ability to obtain and consume just about anything we want or need. Hickory Nuts are generally regarded as our favorite meal (but I’m especially fond of pecans) and, regrettably for bird critters and folks that feeds them, black oil sunflower seeds are also one of our favorites. Us squirrels invest a great deal of time looking for food to satisfy our bodily energy requirements. During the peak of winter us squirrels spend nearly 75% of our time foraging. In August the time we spend foraging drops to about 30% ~ that's in the Northern Hemisphere, of course. 

Marty, Albert Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore in a rare photo circa 1930

You human critters often fail to see the unique qualities of us squirrels and often assume that the one or two squirrels observed at a feeder are just that, one or two squirrels... but us squirrels are likely to nest in groups of  6 or 7. Depending on availability of food there’s likely to be additional nests in the region, plus us squirrels have a range of up to seven acres, so some of the squirrels seen at feeders may, in reality, be from a distance away. Along with a seemingly insatiable appetite, us squirrels are extremely cunning and physically well equipped to negotiate the most challenging of obstacles. That’s why we’ve been able to survive under the worst of odds...

“On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.”
~ Sid Hartha AKA Buddha ~ 


Marty and Saint Francis