Facts About Flying Squirrels

FFacts On Tap Editorial Team Fact-checked Updated April 2, 2025 3 min read

Flying squirrels don't actually fly, but that hasn't stopped them from becoming one of the animal kingdom's most graceful nighttime gliders. Using a stretchy membrane of skin between their legs, these small nocturnal rodents can sail from tree to tree, sometimes covering the length of a football field in a single leap.

Here's a closer look at how they glide, what they eat, where they live, and how they survive the cold months without ever technically hibernating.

Flying squirrels are nocturnal, meaning they're most active at night, when their large eyes and gliding ability help them move safely through the dark forest canopy.
They don't have wings; instead, a furry membrane called the patagium stretches between their front and back legs, letting them glide rather than truly fly.
There are roughly 50 species of flying squirrels worldwide, ranging from tiny pygmy flying squirrels only a few inches long to giant flying squirrels that can reach about 18 inches in body length.
Flying squirrels typically glide 150 feet or more in a single jump, and the largest species, giant flying squirrels, have been recorded gliding several hundred feet or more under ideal conditions.
Their large, round eyes are adapted for low-light vision, helping them spot branches and predators in near-total darkness.
Flying squirrels are omnivores, feeding mainly on nuts, seeds, fruit, fungi, and insects, and they often cache extra food in tree cavities to get through winter.
They're found in forests across North America (including parts of Central America), Europe, and Asia, favoring areas with plenty of mature trees for gliding and nesting.
Flying squirrels communicate with chirps, squeaks, and other vocalizations, and also rely on scent marking to define territory and find mates.
In the wild, flying squirrels usually live around 5-6 years, while individuals in captivity can live 10 or more years; owls, snakes, and raccoons are among their main predators.
After a gestation period of about 40 days, females typically give birth to 2-6 young, which are born blind and hairless and depend fully on their mother at first.
Flying squirrels do not truly hibernate; instead, they enter short periods of torpor and often nest together in groups of a dozen or more inside tree cavities, huddling for warmth during cold snaps.
Several flying squirrel populations, including the Carolina northern flying squirrel, are considered threatened or endangered due to habitat loss, making forest conservation important to their survival.
Flying squirrels steer mid-glide by adjusting the tension of their patagium and using their flattened tail like a rudder, allowing them to change direction and stick a landing on a distant tree trunk.

Frequently asked questions

Are flying squirrels capable of true flight?

No. Flying squirrels have a patagium, a furred membrane of skin stretching between their front and back legs, which lets them glide through the air. They cannot achieve sustained, powered flight the way birds or bats can.

How far can flying squirrels glide?

Most flying squirrels can glide roughly 150 feet or more in a single jump, adjusting direction with their limbs and tail. Larger species, like giant flying squirrels, have been recorded gliding several hundred feet under favorable conditions.

Do flying squirrels build nests?

They don't build nests from scratch like some birds; instead, they use tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or abandoned bird nests, lining them with soft material such as leaves, moss, and shredded bark for insulation.

Are flying squirrels endangered?

Most flying squirrel species are stable, but some, such as the Carolina northern flying squirrel, are considered threatened or endangered because of habitat loss and forest fragmentation.

Do flying squirrels hibernate in winter?

Not in the true sense. Flying squirrels stay active through winter but conserve energy through brief periods of torpor and by nesting communally in groups to share body heat.

How do flying squirrels communicate?

They use vocalizations like chirps, barks, and squeaks along with scent marking to establish territory, attract mates, and recognize other squirrels in their social group.

Sources & further reading

Reviewed by the Facts On Tap Editorial Team

We write every article to be genuinely fun — and genuinely true. Each fact is checked against reputable sources before it goes live. Spotted something off? Tell us and read our fact-check policy.

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