Meet Amelia...

Meet our new neighbor...Amelia...after Amelia Earhart... of course. This is a Southern Flying Squirrel..and she has taken up residence in our bluebird box, on the pine tree by our back patio. I saw her peeking out the bluebird box at me one morning about a month ago. Flying squirrels are nocturnal, so she was most likely just turning in after a long night of eating nuts, berries, and insects. The following is just some FAQ's about flying squirrels, just in case you were wondering...:-) BTW, "Rocky" was a flying squirrel...you know, from the cartoon

"Rocky & Bullwinkle"?

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Southern flying squirrels are quite small. Adults usually are nine to 10 inches long including the tail, and they weigh between two and four ounces. Their fur is soft, silky and moderately long. The upper body is grayish to brownish in color, and the underparts are creamy white. The eyes are surrounded by a black ring, and a black border extends along the edge of the gliding membrane.

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Flying squirrels produce several vocalizations including a high pitched "tseet" and other chirping sounds. Some vocalizations are above the frequency range of the human ear.

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Undoubtedly the most unusual habits of the southern flying squirrel are its gliding ability and its nocturnal behavior. unlike fox squirrels or gray squirrels that are active by day, the southern flying squirrel is probably the most nocturnal of all mammals in Nebraska. Other gliding mammals from various parts of the world also tend to be nocturnal, and a possible explanation for this association is that gliding in daylight might attract the attention of hawks or other diurnal (daytime) predators. The gliding of a flying squirrel is spectacular. Glides begin after the squirrel climbs to a lofty treetop perch and assesses the landing site by moving its head up and down and from side to side, apparently triangulating to judge distance. It then launches itself with all four legs extended at right angles from the body, stretching the flying membrane.
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With tremendous agility, flying squirrels can steer around branches or other obstacles. Most steering is done with the tail, but squirrels also vary the tension on the membrane to steer and to control speed. They usually land on the vertical trunk of another tree, invariably upright with the hind feet touching first.

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Upon landing, they scurry to the opposite side of the tree to elude any pursuing predator. Glides occasionally extend for more than 50 yards, but are usually much shorter. Flying squirrels appear to have a maximum gliding ratio of about three horizontal feet for every vertical foot, a glide ratio that would allow them to travel the length of a football field from a perch 100 feet high.

Southern flying squirrels do not hibernate, although they may remain in their nests for several days during severe winter weather. In winter they form groups in a common nest to conserve warmth. The number of animals in the winter congregations varies by latitude, with larger con- gregations found in northern climates. One tree cavity in Illinois was reported to contain 50 squirrels. In Nebraska, eight squirrels have been found in one nest box.