Flying Squirrels

Flying Squirrels	John Keslick Jr.
	Dec. 04, 2007

Date: Tues, Dec 4 2007 3:48 pm
From: "symplastless"

Can someone help me ID these Squirrels.

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/HTMLFILES/flying_squirrels.html
Are they flying squirrels?

Specifically which ones?

Are they threatened and endangered species?

If not sure can someone point me in the right direction

Thank very very very much.

Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist

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TOPIC: Squirrels
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/774b835d30f7d16a?hl=en
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== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 6:02 am
From: "William Morse"

Hi John,

That is certainly a true flying squirrel. I do not know what type,
but the Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel was (is?) a federally
endangered species. There was a proposal earlier this year to remove
it Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. I do not know
the out come of that. I quickly checked Google this AM for flying
squirrels and found this link:
http://www.flyingsquirrels.com/World/world.html
Apparently there are 2 subspecies that are endangered and 3 ssp. which are rare.
- northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus); USA, Canada
(G.s.fuscus & G.s.coloratus endangered, USA)
-southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans); USA, Canada, Mexico,
Central America (G.v. guerreroensis/goldmani/oaxacensis rare)

I would contact your local USFWS as well as your state environmental
office to get the up-to-date protection status.

Travis Morse
Ecologist
Elma, NY

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 6:05 am
From: djluthringer@pennswoods.net

Hi John,

It is definitely a flying squirrel. The question is whether it's a Northern or
Southern flying squirrel.

I'm referring to the National Audubon Field Guide to North American Mammals.
Here's a quick breakdown:

1. Southern flying squirrel:

smallest tree squirrel. Very silky coat grayish-brown above, white below,
flattened gray-grown tail, length 8.25-10", tail 3.25-4.75"

similar species: Northern flying squirrel is generally larger and a richer brown

2. Northern flying squirrel:

small, very soft fur, rich brown above, white below, length 10.375-14.5", tail
4.5-7.125"

similar species: Southern flying squirrel is generally smaller and grayer.

Since I'm partially color blind and color can very a good bit between animals in
general, I'd be more likely to look at overal length of the animal and habitat
range. Although from the pictures I wouldn't call the pelage a "rich brown",
hence a grayer color and more likely a Southern. Just one word of caution
concerning Audubon color plates for this critter. The book I'm looking at has
the Northern pictured as a grayer looking coat...

It appears small, hence a southern, and northerns are rare in PA. The habitat
map I'm looking at doesn't have northerns listed in southeastern PA, they
appear to be more along the Allegheny Plateau of the Appalachain range.

So, through the process of elimination and odds, I'd be more apt to say it's a
Southern flying squirrel.

Neither Southern or Northerns are listed as threatened or endangered in PA.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcf/bandm.aspx

Nice pics! It's says Southerns also make an excellent and exceptionally clean
pet. I wish my wife would've adopted this critter instead of another dog. We
now have 3 dogs and 2 cats. Anyone want a cat? We had a neighbor who named
his cat 'T.P.', short for 'target practice'. Great name, just not too fond of
cats. 'Marv' Blozan is the exception to the rule though.

Dale

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 7 2007 9:21 pm
From: James Parton

ENTS,

I can remember as a child us having a family of flying squirrels in a
storage area in our home. They took up residence in one of dads old
jackets. They were cute little critters with large eyes. I can
remember seeing them at dusk gliding from tree to tree in our yard. We
had some nice hickories & oaks for them to play in. That was long ago.
I was less than 10 years old.

James Parton

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