Top 4 Interesting Facts about Lorain Flying Squirrels You Didn't Know

There are two species of local Lorain flying squirrels that you will find in North America. While they are called ‘flying squirrels’, they do not necessarily fly. They simply glide since they do not have the flight capability of birds and bats. They use the unique membrane found in their back and front legs called patagium. When flying squirrel will travel from one tree to another, they will simply jump on the highest portion of the tree and will immediately spread their limbs that will expose the special membrane they used for gliding.

Appearance of the Flying Squirrel

The Ohio flying squirrels are known for their gray brown fur. The Glaucomys Sabrinus is distinguishable for the fur in their belly that has a gray shade on its base. You can also differentiate the two species of flying squirrels through their size. The southern type would be relatively smaller and may reach an average of 9 inches in terms of length while the northern specie has an average size of 11 inches. When gliding, they will use the power of their legs to steer. They may use their tails to break. They can cover a total of 150ft when gliding.

Habitat

The southern species will usually be found in the eastern section of US. They can survive from the state of Maine to Florida. The northern type will be widely distributed in different states. Flying squirrel will dwell in woodlands and coniferous forests. They will establish their den in the abandoned nest of other variety of squirrels and birds, nest boxes, and holes of woodpeckers. During the winter season, they will choose to occupy the same nest to maintain an ideal body temperature.

Natural Diet

The flying squirrels are known as omnivores. They will eat various Lorain foods to satiate their hunger such as insects, fruit, fungi, nuts, and seeds. The southern flying squirrel’s diet will be composed of eggs, carrions, and birds. This is why they are being considered as more carnivorous than the other type of squirrels.

Behavior

The Ohio creatures have large eyes that play a key role on their behavior. Since they are nocturnal creature, they will need this pair of eyes to survive. They will rest during daytime and will hunt for foods at night. While their diet is primarily composed of nuts and fruits, they will be eating almost anything. They will also eat slugs and snails to suppress their hunger.

The mating season of these two types of Lorain flying squirrels will also vary. The northern species will only breed once per year while the southern flying squirrels will mate about twice per year. Once the young ones are born, they will have to rely to their mother for at least 2 months to survive. The flying squirrels will have a life span of 10 years when they are in captivity. Due to the presence of predators and disease in the wild, their average life span in the wild will be considerably shorter. At least two types of flying squirrels are included in the endangered list due to urbanization and habitat loss.

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