northern flying squirrel

Northern flying squirrel is one of just two flying squirrels in North America. It occurs throughout Canada. In the United States it occurs in the east from Maine west to Minnesota and south to North Carolina, and in the west from Washington east to Montana and south to California. It is absent from the Great Plains and the desert southwest. In Minnesota it is restricted to northeastern half of the state south to the northern Metro area. It is found in coniferous and mixed forests, especially near swamps or streams. It is seldom seen because it remains in its nest until deep dusk and is active only at night.

The adult is 10¾″ to 13½″ in length. The head and body is 5½″ to 5⅝″ (140 to 144 mm) long, the tail 3½″ to 4½″ (89 to 114 mm) long. The eyes are large and black. The skull has 22 teeth. The fur on the upper part of the body is dense, glossy, and olive-brown. The fur on the belly is white at the tips, lead gray at the base. A fur-covered, folded layer of loose skin (patagium) extends along each side of the body from the wrist of the foreleg to the ankle of the hind leg. Among mammals, only flying squirrels and bats have this feature. The tail is broad, flat, and rounded at the end. It is the same color as the back at the base and gets darker approaching the tip. The fur on the tail extends outward at the sides creating a horizontal plane.

Total length: 10¾″ to 13½″

Head and body: 5½″ to 5⅝″ (140 to 144 mm)

Tail: 3½″ to 4½″ (89 to 114 mm)

Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is a little smaller and weighs much less. The fur on the back is grayer. The fur on the belly is white all the way to the base. The tail is paler below. The tip of the tail is darker.

Coniferous and mixed forests, especially near swamps or streams

Northern flying squirrel is active at night. It remains it its nest until deep dusk.

4 years

It nests in a hole in a large tree.

Mostly fungi and lichens, but also insects, nuts, seeds, fruit, and buds

Sources

7, 24, 29, 30.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 6/20/2025).

Common though rarely seen

Northern Flying Squirrel (Sciuridae: Glaucomys sabrinus) Close-up
Carl Barrentine

Northern Flying Squirrel (Sciuridae: Glaucomys sabrinus) Close-up of Tail
Carl Barrentine

Warren Tinker
1/21/2022

Location: Lavell Township approximately 10 miles South of Hibbing, MN 55746 airport.

I moved here in 1966 and this is the first time that I’ve seen this squirrel.

I stayed up late (10 pm) watching a movie on tv and I kept hearing a small odd noise outside my sliding glass doors.

I have a bird block feeder hanging from the eave of the house for birds and that was where he was.

It was windy with a light snow and he was hanging on to the block cage and having a bite to eat.

I’ve had trouble with racoons and bears over the years and this is one area that they cannot reach.

The squirrel was here for at least 30 minutes. A flashlight did not bother him at all. I only looked long enough to see what it was.

wat

Location: Albany MN

Location: Washington County