Flying squirrels are beautiful animals that many people have heard about but few people have actually seen. Because sightings of these animals are not common it leads many people to ask, “Are Flying Squirrels Endangered?”
The only species of flying squirrel that is endangered is a sub-species of the Northern Flying Squirrel. The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus) has been on the Endangered Species list since 1985.
The overall population of flying squirrels is quite robust and, in general, are not endangered.
Which Flying Squirrels are Considered Endangered?
In 1985 two sub-species of the northern flying squirrel were placed on the Federal Endangered Species List.
- Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus) was listed as endangered in 1985 and remains listed as an endangered species.
- Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) was listed an endangered in 1985 but has since been delisted due to recovery.
The status of the Virginia northern flying squirrel, sometimes referred to as the West Virginia flying squirrel, has been contentious.
The Bush administration removed the endangered status from this squirrel in 2008 but, after a lawsuit from environmental groups, the squirrel was returned to a protected status in 2011.
In 2012 the results of the lawsuit were appealed and overturned and the Virginia flying squirrel was once again removed from the endangered species list in 2013.
The remaining species of Northern Flying Squirrels, Southern Flying Squirrels and Humboldt’s Flying Squirrels are not endangered.
Location of the Endangered Carolina Northern Flying Squirrels
The map below shows the range of the entire population of Northern Squirrels in North America.
The Carolina Northern Flying squirrels are located in the most southern part of the overall range and inhabits the forests of North Carolina’s tallest mountains. Specifically, this species is found at elevations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet in the following mountains:
- Long Hope
- Roan
- Grandfather
- Black-Craggy Mountains
- Great Balsam
- Plott Balsam
- Smoky
- Unicoi Mountains
- Unaka Mountain
There are also minor populations of this species in east Tennessee and southwest Virginia.
These squirrels prefer to live among red spruce, Fraser fir, Eastern hemlock, yellow birch, buckeye, sugar maple trees where they eat a diet of truffles, mushrooms and lichens.
Risks to the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Populations
According to the USGS this species is threatened because the populations are scattered across “sky islands”. They use the term “sky island” as a metaphor to describe the very tops of the highest mountains. This isolation in a highly specific environment makes them extremely susceptible to any changes in their limited habitat.
Quoting the USGS, these sky islands “were reduced in size and quality by logging and fire in the late 19th through the mid-20th century. Because of its limited and disjointed range, the squirrel is vulnerable to human and natural threats.
Currently, the high-mountain forests that the squirrel inhabits are threatened by exotic insects, forest fragmentation/second-home development on private land, climate change and atmospheric deposition—which is when pollutants in the atmosphere are deposited on land or water.”
What Does This Squirrel Look Like?
The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Carolina have brown fur on its back, gray fur around the face and the end of the tail, and a gray/white fur on its belly.
Like all flying squirrels this species uses its webbed patagium and a long, flat tail to aid in gliding. Additionally the eyes are relatively large which helps in their nocturnal activity.
In general the Carolina northern flying squirrel looks like the more common southern flying squirrel but, with a length of 10-12 inches, is nearly twice as large.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
What are Flying Squirrels?
Flying squirrels are basically like other tree squirrels and are cousins to other North America squirrel species like the eastern gray and red squirrels. However, unlike the other species that are diurnal, flying squirrels are nocturnal.
The name “flying squirrel” is somewhat of a misnomer as the squirrels don’t actually fly, but glide through the air on membranes of skin attached to their legs. The squirrel’s membranes work similar to a hang glider and are what inspired base jumping suits.
There are three primary species of flying squirrel:
- Northern Flying Squirrel
- Carolina Sub-Species
- Virginia Sub-Species
- Southern Flying Squirrel
- Humboldt’s Flying Squirrel
While the combined range of these animals is fairly large, and the overall population robust, most people have never seen one in the wild due to them being nocturnal.
Here is a more complete least of 10 fun flying squirrel facts.
Further Reading and Resources
Here are a few more resources to learn more about flying squirrels.
https://animalia.bio/northern-flying-squirrel
https://animalia.bio/southern-flying-squirrel
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Flying-Squirrels
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2011/mountain-xpress-03-28-2011.html
