Topic: #4 Bird/Critter in the spotlight flying squirrel

[Wrennie]

When we first moved to this house we had a bunch off flying squirrels. Marton asked me why the chipmunks were out on the bird feeders so late at night. Then I saw his 'chipmunks' and told him to look closer.{giggle} One night he went to bring a feeder in and the little guy was still holding onto it! well, then my outdoor cats showed up & they disappeared. Now that the cats are gone my little nocturnal buddies are back!

Northern flying squirrel

((my mouse if freaking out, if anyone wants to add to this feel free))
These rodents are 10-14" long. They live across Canada and some of the northern parts of the US. They do have a southern cousin who looks very similar/ There is a flap of skinthat stretches from their front to their back feet.When they jump from a branch they glide down {fly} to where theyre going. They are usually nocturnal and have big dark eyes for seeing at night.
The southern species range runs down the eastern 1/2 of the US

[Penny]

Awww, arent they cute!

[bestofour]

I don't think they're cute.  I've never seen one in person and hope I never do.

[Jessica]

James and I were sitting outside of his mom and dad's one night waiting for his sister.  Something flew past us pretty low to the ground. It the tree and ran up it. It had to have been a flying squirrel but it was dark and we couldn't see that well. It was so quick. I had never seen one before.  Creepy.  I wouldn't care to have them in my yard.  They would freak me out.  But, maybe not either.  I don't have them so I don't know.

[Tina]

They look kind of cool to me but if I got 'buzzed' by one it might freak me out a little too. Cool critter, Wrennie.

[sunsoaker]

I used to see the southern version all the time when I was a kid. But I don't see them anymore. Heck I don't even see very many squirrells. May have to do with all the cats the neighbor has.

[bayou girl]

very cool wrennie.  and like you barb, they were more plentiful when we were kids.  saw lots of them..  not so many these days.  but i don't see many squirrels either.  i had lived in this house over 2 years before i saw the first one in my yard!

[Wrennie]

I vote on the cute side. Mine must be small or else they just seem smaller when not 'flying'. If you do google them though, you will get a lot of sites on how to get rid of squirrels.
Heres an interesting bit of info I found;
Northern flying squirrels, along with pine squirrels, are an important prey species for the endangered Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis. They also disseminate spores of the ectomycorrhizal fungi that they eat, and these are essential to many species of conifer and some deciduous trees. Other predators include various other owls, especially the Great Horned Owl, hawks, the American Marten, the Canadian Lynx and the Red Fox.

[Penny]

Thats a great close up Wren....did you take that?

[Wrennie]

Nope, google image.

[Penny]

Nope, google image.

Its really good.....whoever took it.

[Dianna]

I think they look cute, too, Wrennie.

First time I ever saw one was in Imokkolee, Florida. It came swooshing down out of a tree and took a nut out of my hand while I was sitting on my host's steps. I was fascinated by the little critter...

[Wrennie]

Oh cool. They dont come over to us yet. The Chipmunks remembered us from last summer and came right up to us looking for peanuts.

[bestofour]

he is cute when not flying.

[UNCLEG]

Flying squirrels are great, I have hand raised several for release into the wild.  They are very intersting animals to watch.  I have some friends who had one as house pet, he had the run of the house.  However they can be quite messy and have the oder of a rat.  They also will nip at you playfully, but sometime draw blood.  I'm not a big fan of house pets so the ones I have raised have been released.

[Bonnie]

First time I saw one I was up a telephone pole. When I opened the terminal I though it was a bat. Needless to say they didn't win me over.

Thought for today:
When life hands you lemons, ask for salt and tequila.

[Jessica]

Thought for today:
When life hands you lemons, ask for salt and tequila.

  Good idea!