Small Mammal
Northern Flying Squirrel
Nature’s little hang gliders
Where the Night Gliders Live
Northern flying squirrels are found across Maine in mature forests, especially those with lots of old trees and cavities for nesting. Because they’re nocturnal, most people never see them.
Nighttime Ninja Moves
Flying squirrels don’t actually fly, they glide from tree to tree, steering with their tail and limbs before landing with impressive accuracy. Their love of fungi also helps forests grow by spreading fungal spores.
Quick Facts
Average Size
About 9-11 inches long with a flattened tail and a special fold of skin stretching between their front and back legs. When they leap from a tree, that skin acts like a parachute, allowing them to glide more than 100 feet.
What's on the Menu
Fungi, nuts, seeds, berries, insects, bird eggs, and even lichens. They’re especially fond of truffles, underground fungi they sniff out beneath the forest floor.
The Look
Soft gray-brown fur, a pale belly, large dark eyes for night vision, and a wide, flattened tail that helps steer while gliding.
