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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchUsually, no. Southern flying squirrels are nocturnal, tree-dwelling wild animals with specialized habitat, diet and social needs. Captivity and routine handling can cause significant stress, and ownership rules differ by state and locality. Unless you are operating within a permitted wildlife-rehabilitation system, keeping one as a household pet is generally a poor welfare choice. Supporting wild squirrels where they live is safer and more appropriate.
What a southern flying squirrel is—and why that matters in a home
The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is a small, arboreal rodent adapted to life in mature forests. Iowa wildlife guidance describes it as the only nocturnal tree squirrel group in its region. It does not truly fly: a skin membrane called the patagium stretches between the forelegs and hind legs, allowing the animal to glide from tree to tree.
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That biology creates an immediate mismatch with a typical household. The squirrel is active when people are sleeping, uses vertical space and tree cavities rather than a conventional cage, and depends on a complex forest environment for food, shelter and escape routes. A tame-looking animal in a human setting is still a wild animal with wild behavioral needs.
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Southern flying squirrels forage and move primarily at night. A pet that wakes after dark may run, climb, gnaw and vocalize while the household is trying to sleep. Keeping the animal awake during the day so people can interact with it works against its natural rhythm and can add stress. Maryland wildlife information also notes that the species is rarely seen because of its nocturnal habits.
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Gliding requires three-dimensional space
In the wild, the patagium lets a squirrel launch from a tree, steer through the air and land on another trunk or branch. A small enclosure cannot reproduce mature woodland. Even a large indoor setup would not provide the changing heights, launch points, bark, cavities and escape choices the animal uses naturally. The practical question is not whether a cage can be made bigger; it is whether a home can meet a wild glider’s behavioral and environmental requirements without compromising welfare.
Habitat and diet are specialized
Iowa guidance identifies mature oak and hickory woodland, standing dead trees (snags), rotting logs and tree cavities as important southern-flying-squirrel habitat. Maryland describes natural cavities and old woodpecker holes as nest sites. These features are not decorative accessories. They provide shelter, nesting locations, travel routes and food resources that are difficult to reproduce indoors.
A varied forest diet is not a home feeding plan
Wild southern flying squirrels eat a broad mix of foods, including nuts, acorns, seeds, berries, fungi and lichens. Guidance also lists some insects and occasional animal matter such as birds, nestlings, eggs or other vertebrates. Maryland characterizes the species as mostly granivorous while still noting seeds, nuts, lichens and fungi.
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Captivity and handling can harm welfare
Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources states that wildlife rehabilitation requires an appropriate permit, suitable facilities and specialized knowledge. Its rehabilitation FAQ (document IC2065, dated January 15, 2026) emphasizes that wild animals are stressed by human contact and should not be cuddled, petted or handled unnecessarily. The agency answers its own question—whether rehabilitated wild animals make good pets—with “no.”
Rehabilitation is also different from ownership. A permitted rehabilitator may temporarily hold an injured or orphaned animal for treatment and transfer, with the aim of returning it to the wild when possible. That controlled, time-limited setting is not evidence that the species is suitable for a household. Human habituation can make release more difficult, and repeated handling can increase stress or injury risk.
Why “friendly” behavior can be misleading
A young or injured squirrel may cling to a person, remain unusually still or accept food. Those responses can reflect fear, weakness, dependence or previous human contact rather than domestication. Wild animals do not become domesticated simply because one individual tolerates handling. A squirrel that appears calm can still bite, attempt a dangerous escape or suffer from chronic stress that is not obvious to an inexperienced keeper.
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How long do southern flying squirrels live?
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks reports a maximum longevity of five years in the wild and up to 10 years in captivity. Those are agency-reported upper figures, not a guarantee for an individual animal and not a reason to acquire one. Lifespan in a controlled setting does not resolve the more fundamental questions of legal status, welfare, veterinary access and whether the animal can perform normal behaviors.
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Is it legal to keep one?
There is no single United States-wide answer. Wildlife possession rules are set by states and, in some places, by counties or municipalities. Requirements can include a wildlife- possession permit, restrictions on native species, limits on taking animals from the wild, and rules governing transport or rehabilitation.
What state examples show
Ohio Department of Natural Resources guidance says raising a wild animal in captivity is illegal there without a state permit and advises people never to keep a squirrel as a pet. Massachusetts wildlife guidance, by contrast, lists southern flying squirrels among mammals that may be kept as pets under that state’s rules. These examples demonstrate why a neighbor’s experience or an internet post cannot establish legality where you live.
Before possessing any southern flying squirrel, contact your current state wildlife agency and your local animal-control or municipal authority. Ask specifically about southern flying squirrels, possession of native wildlife, permits, captive-bred versus wild-caught animals, and transport across state lines. Get the answer in writing when possible. Do not take an animal from the wild while you are checking the rules.
What to do if you find a baby, injured or “abandoned” squirrel
The safest response is wildlife-centered, not an attempt to create a pet.
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- Keep people and pets away. Move dogs, cats and children back so the squirrel is not chased or repeatedly handled.
- Do not start a home feeding regimen. The wildlife sources establish that care is specialized but do not provide a do-it-yourself diet or rearing protocol. Incorrect food or fluids can worsen an animal’s condition.
- Contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or your state wildlife agency. Explain where you found the squirrel, what you observed and whether it has visible injuries. Ask for species-appropriate instructions while arranging transfer.
- Follow the agency’s directions for temporary safety. Michigan’s guidance allows temporary possession only within the limits it describes and for transfer to a permitted rehabilitator, veterinarian or Department of Natural Resources employee. Those rules are Michigan-specific; your jurisdiction may differ.
Do not assume that a squirrel alone on the ground is orphaned. A rehabilitator can help distinguish normal juvenile exploration from injury, illness or genuine abandonment without turning the encounter into an ownership decision.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keeping a squirrel versus supporting wild squirrels
If your goal is to enjoy southern flying squirrels, habitat support and non-invasive observation meet that goal without removing an animal from its ecosystem.
| Consideration | Keeping one as a household animal | Supporting or observing wild squirrels |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Depends on current state and local wildlife rules; permits may apply. | Uses ordinary wildlife-respect practices and avoids possession. |
| Animal welfare | Captivity and unnecessary human contact can stress a wild squirrel. | Leaves the animal in its natural social, foraging and movement environment. |
| Habitat | A home enclosure cannot reproduce mature woodland, cavities, snags and natural gliding routes. | Retaining suitable woodland features directly benefits habitat. |
| How to learn about the species | Requires handling and captive management that may harm the animal. | Allows nocturnal observation without capture or taming. |
How to help southern flying squirrels where they belong
Protect mature woodland features
Iowa wildlife recommendations include maintaining older woodlots and retaining snags and rotting material. Dead and decaying trees can look untidy, but they provide cavities, insects, fungi and structural routes used by many forest species, including flying squirrels. Where safety permits, avoid removing these features solely for cosmetic reasons.
Use an artificial nest box as habitat support
Iowa DNR also recommends constructing and placing artificial nest boxes. A nest box is a supplement for wild squirrels, not a pet enclosure and not a way to trap or claim an animal. If you install one, follow your state wildlife agency’s placement and monitoring advice, keep it away from hazards and never seal an occupied box or remove a squirrel for inspection.
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Observe without interfering
Because the species is nocturnal, quiet observation after dusk is more appropriate than trying to handle it. A camera can document activity if positioned without disturbing the animals; no particular camera model is required by the wildlife guidance. Keep lighting, noise and human presence low, and do not bait a site in ways that could draw squirrels toward roads, pets or unsafe structures.
A practical decision checklist
Answer these questions before you consider possession:
- Have your state and local wildlife authorities confirmed that possession is legal for your exact circumstances?
- Do you have a lawful route to a permitted wildlife professional rather than plans to take an animal from the wild?
- Can you provide veterinary care from a clinician experienced with native wildlife, not merely a general pet clinic?
- Would your household accept a nocturnal animal that cannot be handled as a cuddly companion?
- Is your real goal better met by protecting mature trees, installing an approved nest box or observing squirrels outdoors?
If any answer is uncertain, do not acquire the animal. Contact a wildlife agency or rehabilitator instead.
Bottom line
Southern flying squirrels are fascinating native wildlife, but they are not a good default pet. Their nocturnal, arboreal life, complex forest habitat and varied natural diet are difficult to reproduce at home, and wildlife agencies warn that captivity and handling cause stress. Legality varies sharply by jurisdiction: Ohio requires a permit for raising wild animals in captivity, while Massachusetts lists the species under its own pet rules. Check your local authority before taking any action, and choose habitat protection or professional rehabilitation over private ownership.
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