Monday, February 24, 2014

Meet the NYC flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

"Few of us ever get a good view of a flying squirrel, but then again, not many of us know they truly exist. Not unlike its cartoon depiction, as the brainy, be-goggled sidekick of Bullwinkle the Moose, the Southern flying squirrel is an impressively well-adapted resident of New York City. With a preference for older beech and oak woods, these squirrels are primarily nocturnal. An uncommon habitat and our very urban instinct to avoid late-night walks through obscure woodlands make finding one a deliberate effort."



"The flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) does not actually fly — it glides. When a squirrel leaps from its perch in a tall tree, it spreads its limbs, stretching out its two patagia (thick, furred membranes that extend from its wrists to its ankles). In this way, a squirrel less than 10 inches long (including a tail almost half that length) can, in a single bound, cover 150 feet or more, gliding through the treetops effortlessly" READ MORE

3 comments:

Paddy O said...

When I lived in the mountains, I had a flying squirrel as a regular visit to my bird feeder. Would glide in from a nearby oak or cedar. Didn't seem to mind if I turned the light on.

The Dude said...

Where is moose?

Unknown said...

I like bats and squirrels. So a flying squirrel would suit me just fine. Adorable.