Want to attract flying squirrels in your backyard?
Follow this guide properly and you have a foolproof plan to attract flying squirrels in your backyard.
Watching flying squirrels glide from tree to tree can be an exciting experience for children and adults alike!
What is a Flying Squirrels?
Despite their name, flying squirrels don’t fly; they glide. They have a special skin membrane called the patagium, which extends from their wrists on their front legs to their ankle on their back legs. As the squirrel glides, they also use its tail as a rudder to help stabilize them.
Gliding in a downward position, they have been found to travel a distance of 150 feet. Once they reach their target, flying squirrels will typically scurry around the back of the tree to escape predators.
Flying squirrels have a lifespan of around six years in the wild, and up to fifteen years when living in a zoo.
Where do Flying Squirrels live?
Northern flying squirrels are one of two species of flying squirrels that can be found in North America. If you live in Canada, Alaska, North Carolina, Washington, or Utah, then you might be able to spot this type of squirrel in your backyard.
Southern Flying Squirrels live in eastern parts of North America, ranging from Canada all the way to Florida. They’ve also been spotted in Mexico.
Their ranges overlap, but an excellent way to determine which type of flying squirrel is living in your backyard is to look at the trees.
The northern flying squirrel prefers higher elevations with mostly cone-bearing trees such as fir, spruce, and cedar. Southern flying squirrels are more likely to be found in forests with deciduous trees and leaves that fall in autumn.
Flying squirrels tend to live inside dead tree cavities or birdhouses, where they spend much of their time during the day.
How to identify a Flying Squirrel?
Flying squirrels look quite different from their non-gliding relatives. The most significant difference between the two is their parachute-like arms.
Like land squirrels, flying squirrels range in colors from grey or brown. On average, they weigh between two and ten ounces. These cute creatures have big, round eyes that almost look like that of a cartoon character.
Researchers have recently discovered that the fur can sometimes glow at night, another reason they are so magical. So, if you see a fluorescent pink glow flying through the trees, you could be looking at a flying squirrel!
How to attract flying Squirrels?
If you’ve spotted flying squirrels in your area, you need to know exactly how to attract a flying squirrel to your backyard.
#1- Tracking flying squirrels
If you’ve already seen flying squirrels, note down the time, and place where you’ve seen them. If you’ve seen them near a bird feeder or near a water spring or in a nest.
Having this information is crucial, as the next step depends on this.
#2- Foods to attract flying squirrels
Squirrels love nuts and seeds. Flying squirrels also fall into this. Generally, you can find flying squirrels snacking on acorns, nuts, berries, and some protein sources.
#3- Place Squirrel Feeder
Using a feeder specifically designed for squirrels can do the trick. To do this, simply spread some peanut butter and sunflower seeds.
Keep the feeder near the place where you’ve seen them last that we talked about in the first step.
When do you see most of the flying squirrels?
Most of the flying squirrels can be seen in the summer. In this season they try to store food for winter and rain. This is the best time to attract flying squirrels. In colder months they rarely come out of their nest.
What is the best bait for flying squirrels?
Flying squirrels love the nutty taste of peanut butter and sunflower seeds. These are great options to set in your traps/feeder to lure them in.
Do flying squirrels only come out at night?
Flying Squirrels are nocturnal, they have bigger eyes and can see well at night. Being nocturnal, they come out at night to feed and return to their nests to sleep during the day.
Are Flying Squirrels dangerous?
Flying squirrels poses no severe harm to humans. However, they have sharp teeth and nails to help them to stick to the trees when landing. They may damage your attic, and floors but will not bite humans.
Do flying squirrels glow in the dark?
Yes, flying squirrels glow pink in the dark under ultraviolet light. Their fur glows a brilliant, bubble-gum pink under ultraviolet light. Flying squirrels are gifted with a flap of skin between their limbs so they can glide long distances. (Source: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC)
Also read: Do squirrels hibernate during winter? and when do they have babies?
Conclusion
If you’ve followed the steps explained above a flying squirrel may start to live in your backyard. Flying squirrels are wild animals and don’t stay in a place for a very long time.
However, if you’ve got a place that is perfect for the winter season, you’ll have a higher chance of having a squirrel.