Northern Flying Squirrel - Sierra Club BC
Skip to content
Northern Flying Squirrel

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Northern Flying Squirrels

Glaucomys sabrinus 

Appearance

These amazing flying mammals have ‘wings’ (furred skin) that join between their forearms and hindlegs. Their fur is silvery grey and toasted brown with a bright white belly and they have large black eyes to see at night. Flying squirrels have long tails for balance when swooping from tree branch to tree branch. 

Range & Habitat

The northern flying squirrel is found throughout Canada, from the Yukon to the eastern provinces as well as regions in northern states. They like to live in old conifer forests which have dead standing trees called ‘snags’. These snags act as dens for raising their young. 

Reciprocal Relationships

Like most squirrels, these like to munch on nuts and seeds found in the forest. But, flying squirrels will also snack on mosses, fungi, and lichens which make up a large portion of their diet. Their ‘flying’ name is misleading because they do not actually fly. Rather, they glide from tree to tree travelling up to 73 metres in distance per glide. They use their tail to direct their flight and to stop at the desired location.  

Northern flying squirrels act as nature’s gardeners in the forest. These animals help plants grow by dispersing fungi spores that help new mushrooms, like truffles, to grow. These truffles go on to connect with plant roots, assisting in nutrient absorption.  

These squirrels need large decaying trees to nest and survive. While the northern flying squirrel is eaten by coyotes, foxes, owls, and hawks, the most pressing threats are clear-cutting and logging operations in coniferous forests. We can all help protect this unique species by protecting old-growth forests

Status

COSEWIC: Not Reported 
CDC: Yellow 

More Information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca

Photo Credit

Canva

Related Species

Filter by Taxonomy

Filter by EcoProvince

American Kestrel

American Kestrel

The American kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America and weighs only 3 or 4 ounces.

American White Pelican

American White Pelican

American white pelicans are some of the largest birds in North America. They hunt together, driving small schools of fish into each other’s bill pouches.

Arctic tern

Arctic tern

Arctic terns are unique birds with gifts of persistence and resourcefulness. These birds must fly great distances, and in doing so they have a diet with a variety of sea life.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald eagles are found all over B.C. and the U.S. The largest populations in North America live in B.C. and Alaska.

Banana Slug

Banana Slug

Banana slugs are important decomposers in our coastal rainforest. They are nocturnal feeders, eating decaying animals, mushrooms, and plants.

Beaver

Beaver

The beaver possesses many gifts! They are adept at swimming, building, and tree chomping.

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn Sheep

The bighorn sheep are important primary consumers in the food chain. They are vegetarians, eating grasses, bushes and leaves.

Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler

These iconic Canadian birds are also called the ‘black and white creeper’ because they creep along tree trunks looking for tasty insects.

Black Bear

Black Bear

Black bears and Pacific salmon play an important part in maintaining our forest ecosystems.

Bocaccio Rockfish

Bocaccio Rockfish

Bocaccio rockfish are important consumers. These fish eat smaller fish such as anchovies, mackerel, squid and other rockfish.

Bonaparte's Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

These gulls nest in large numbers and produce two to three eggs at a time. These gulls are gifted with agility.

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal Chickadee

Boreal chickadees are an important indicator species of boreal ecosystems!