Ep. 278 : Getting to know the Southern Flying Squirrel

<p>While out tracking in the new snow the other day I came across some relatively small tracks, reminiscent of a Chipmunk (<em>Tamias striatus) </em>or Red Squirrel (<em>Tamiasciurus hudsonicus</em>), though small enough to be a Short-tailed Weasel (<em>Mustela ermina</em>). It took a second before I recognized them as Southern Flying Squirrel (<em>Glaucomys volans</em>) tracks. </p><p>I have been encountering Southern Flying Squirrels in various ways for a few years, including tracks, scat, feeding sign, live sightings, and I even pet one once, but through all of this, I didn’t know much about them. Hence, inspired by my recent tracking outing, I figured I would take some time to get to know the Southern Flying Squirrel a little better. Hopefully we can learn a little more together.</p><p><strong>To learn more : </strong><br><em>Mammal Tracks and Sign </em>by Mark Elbroch and Casey McFarland. Stackpole Books, 2019.<br><em>The Wild Mammals of Missouri </em>3rd Ed. by Charles W. Shwartz and Elizabeth R. Shwartz. University of Missouri Press, 2016.<br><em>Mammals of Algonquin Provincial Park</em>. The Friends of Algonquin Park, 2018. <br><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.01948.x" target="_blank"><em>Climate change induced hybridization in flying squirrels</em> by GARROWAY, BOWMAN, CASCADEN, HOLLOWAY, MAHAN, MALCOLM, STEELE, TURNER, WILSON. Global Change Biology, 2009.</a></p><p></p>