Flying squirrels are small, nocturnal rodents that glide between elevated points using a skin membrane called a patagium. They do not truly fly, but their oversized eyes, social winter behavior, varied diet, unusual vocalizations, and ultraviolet fluorescence make them fascinating animals. Here are 13 facts about how they live—and why they sometimes turn up in attics.
If you find one in an attic, remember that a wild flying squirrel is not a conventional pet. It may be protected by local wildlife laws, and excluding it requires care so adults are not separated from young or sealed inside a wall.
1. Flying squirrels glide rather than fly
Flying squirrels do not flap wings or produce powered flight. They launch from a branch or another elevated point, spread a skin membrane between their limbs, and glide to a lower landing site.
A flying squirrel needs trees, poles, roofs, or other height to travel through the air. It cannot take off from the ground like a bird or bat.
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2. Their gliding membrane is called a patagium
The loose, furred membrane that makes gliding possible is called the patagium. It extends from the wrist to the ankle on each side of the body. When the squirrel stretches out its limbs, the membrane becomes a broad gliding surface.
A small rod of cartilage called the styliform cartilage helps support the membrane near the wrist. This structure gives the squirrel more surface area and control than an ordinary leap would provide.
3. They can steer, turn, and adjust their landings
A glide is not simply a straight fall. Flying squirrels change the position of their legs, arms, body, and tail to alter direction. They can make sharp turns and, in some circumstances, reverse direction during a glide.
That control helps them select a landing branch in dense forest, where branches and trunks create a complicated three-dimensional route.
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A flying squirrel’s long, flat, furry tail helps stabilize the animal while it is airborne and can act as a brake as the squirrel approaches a trunk or branch.
The tail also assists with climbing and balance. In combination with the patagium, it allows the squirrel to make small corrections before landing.
5. Flying squirrels are mainly active at night
Most flying squirrels are nocturnal. Their large eyes help them collect scarce light, while their long whiskers help them detect nearby branches and obstacles in darkness.
This schedule explains why people may hear quick running sounds or see a small animal moving across a roof after sunset without noticing it during the day. Flying squirrels generally spend daylight hours hidden in tree cavities, nests, or other sheltered places.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match6. The species count is not a fixed “50”
There is no single permanent number of flying-squirrel species because taxonomists revise classifications. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service taxonomic database lists 45 species in the flying-squirrel group, while a Smithsonian taxonomy reference recognizes 48 species in 15 genera. These different counts show why it is better to say “several dozen” than give an exact, permanent total.
7. They occur across much of the Northern Hemisphere
Flying squirrels live mainly in forests in North America, Central America, Europe, and Asia. Most known species are found in Asia, where the group is particularly diverse.
In North America, the best-known species are the northern flying squirrel and southern flying squirrel. Their ranges overlap in some regions, but they differ in habitat preferences, behavior, and diet.
8. Their diet is broader than nuts and seeds
Flying squirrels are not all strict plant eaters. Depending on the species and season, their food may include:
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- fruit and flowers
- fungi and lichens
- insects
- bird eggs and nestlings
- carrion
Southern flying squirrels are notably omnivorous and may eat animal matter, while northern flying squirrels depend heavily on fungi. Available food, habitat, and season all influence what an individual eats.
9. Northern flying squirrels help spread forest fungi
Northern flying squirrels eat underground truffles, the fruiting bodies of mycorrhizal fungi. Spores can pass through the squirrels’ digestive systems and remain viable in their droppings.
When those spores are deposited elsewhere, they can help fungi colonize new patches of soil. The fungi form relationships with tree roots, exchanging nutrients with their host trees. In this way, a squirrel searching for food can also contribute to forest fungal communities.
10. Some North American flying squirrels fluoresce under ultraviolet light
Flying squirrels in the New World genus Glaucomys, which includes North American species, have been observed fluorescing under ultraviolet light. Their fur may appear pink or blue.
Scientists have proposed possible explanations, including camouflage or communication, but the biological purpose has not been confirmed. The finding should not be generalized to every flying squirrel species: “all flying squirrels glow pink” is not accurate.
11. Some of their calls are beyond human hearing
Southern flying squirrels produce several kinds of vocalizations, including sounds in the ultrasonic range. Humans cannot normally hear these high-frequency calls without specialized equipment.
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Researchers know that the squirrels communicate in multiple ways, but the purpose of every call has not been fully established.
12. They may sleep and nest together
Flying squirrels are not always solitary. Northern flying squirrels are documented sharing space during winter, when grouping can help conserve body heat. Southern flying squirrels may also form communal groups inside tree cavities.
A group in one nest can make an attic infestation seem larger than expected. Removing or excluding one animal without checking for others can leave squirrels—or dependent young—behind.
13. A very small opening can let them into an attic
Flying squirrels can enter buildings through narrow gaps. The National Park Service reports that openings approximately 0.9 inches wide by 0.7 inches high may be large enough, particularly near a roofline.
Attics can provide darkness, shelter, and protected nesting sites. Do not simply seal every opening immediately: an animal or nest of young could still be inside. A safer approach is to identify active entry points, confirm the animals have left, and then repair openings using humane wildlife-exclusion practices. A local wildlife rehabilitator or licensed wildlife-control professional can help, especially during the breeding season.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Flying squirrels and pet ownership
Despite their appealing appearance, flying squirrels are wild animals with specialized housing, dietary, social, and veterinary needs. They are not domesticated like dogs or cats. Laws governing possession also vary by location.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsDo not capture a wild flying squirrel to keep as a pet. If you find an injured animal, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If one is living in your attic, focus on humane exclusion rather than poisoning, trapping without a plan, or sealing the animal inside.
FAQ
Are flying squirrels good pets?
Flying squirrels are wild animals, not domesticated pets. They are nocturnal, need specialized space and care, may be illegal to possess, and should not be taken from the wild. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for an injured or orphaned squirrel.
Do flying squirrels really fly?
No. They glide using a fur-covered membrane called a patagium that stretches from the wrist to the ankle. Their limbs and tail let them steer and slow down before landing.
What do flying squirrels eat?
Their diet varies by species and may include nuts, seeds, fruit, flowers, fungi, lichens, insects, eggs, nestlings, and carrion. Southern flying squirrels are especially omnivorous, while northern flying squirrels rely heavily on fungi.
How do I get a flying squirrel out of my attic?
Do not seal an opening until you know the squirrels have left, because doing so can trap adults or young inside. Identify active entry points, confirm the animals have safely left, then repair openings using humane exclusion. A qualified wildlife professional or rehabilitator can help; check local wildlife laws before handling the animals.
The Bottom Line
Flying squirrels are gliding, nocturnal forest specialists—not tiny winged pets. Their patagium and controllable tail help them navigate between trees, while their social nesting, varied diet, fungal relationships, unusual calls, and UV fluorescence make them more complex than their name suggests. If they appear in a home, humane exclusion and professional wildlife guidance are safer than trying to keep or seal them in.
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