Flying Squirrel

Flying squirrels are not capable of sustained flight, instead they glide between trees, with flights recorded to 90 meters (295 ft).by changing the positions of its two arms and legs, largely controlled by small cartilaginous wrist bones.This changes the tautness of the pataguim, a furry parachute-like membrane that stretches from wrist to ankle. It has a fluffy tail that stabilizes in flight. The tail acts as an adjunct airfoil working as an airbrake before landing on a tree trunk.

Though their life expectancy in the wild is six years, flying squirrels may live fifteen years in captivity. This is due to these creatures being important prey animals. Predation mortality rates in sub-adults are high. Predators include arboreal snakes, racoons, nocturnal owls, martens, fishers, coyotes, and the domestic cat.

In the Pacific Northwest of North America, the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) is a well-known predator. Flying squirrels are nocturnal, flying at night as they are not adept in escaping birds of prey that hunt during daylight. Flying Squirrels eat according to how hungry they are and what type of environment they are in. They eat whatever types of food they can find in their environment; if desperate they will eat anything. Southern Flying Squirrels eat seeds, insects, gastropods such as slugs and snails, spiders, tree shrubs, flowers, fungi and tree sap.