![[a drawing of a Southern Flying Squirrel and a map showing that they are found Statewide]](/wildlife/sfq.gif)
What do they look like?The southern flying squirrel is the smallest tree squirrel in Maryland. Including their tail, they are 9-10 inches long and weigh 2-4 ounces. They are a grayish brown with a white belly and have a black ring around their large eyes. A fold of skin stretches from the wrist of each front leg to the ankle of each rear leg. This membrane, called a patagium, is used by flying squirrels to glide from tree to tree.
Where are they found?
The southern flying squirrel is found throughout Maryland in hardwood (oak, hickory, maple, beech) forests. They usually make their nests in natural cavities or old woodpecker holes, 15-20 feet up a tree. Sometimes they will build a summer leaf nest Active all year round, the southern flying squirrel will form small groups in the winter and share a common nest to keep warm. The southern flying squirrel is nocturnal, active primarily at night.
What do they eat?
The southern flying squirrel eats nuts (acorns, hickory, etc.), seeds and berries. They will also eat bird eggs, bird nestlings, insects and occasionally dead mice.
What other kinds of squirrels live in Maryland?
The gray squirrel, fox squirrel, red squirrel, northern flying squirrel, and Delmarva fox squirrel (endangered) are other squirrels that live in Maryland. Eastern chipmunks and woodchucks are also members of the squirrel family which inhabit Maryland.
I didn't know that!
Because the southern flying squirrel is predominately active at night, they are not often seen by people. In some areas, the southern flying squirrel may actually outnumber the more conspicuous and familiar gray squirrel.
Although the southern flying squirrel typically glides 20-30 ft, glides up to 240 feet have been recorded.
Drawing by W.H. Henry