Identification

Weight: Avg. 1.8-2.5 oz.
Diet: Various nuts, fruits, bugs, small mammals and lichens
Habitat: Southern Flying squirrels prefer hardwood forests but can be found in mixed woods. Northern Flying squirrels prefers dense forests of hemlocks and birch or hemlock and maple forests.
Activity: Nocturnal Near-round
Procreation: Mating occurs twice a year generally following the pattern of the gray squirrel.
Symptoms: Clients will complain of noises in the wall, generally at night, especially windy nights when the flyers are less likely to be out foraging for food.
Signs: Due to its small size, identifying this squirrel as the culprit is very difficult. A careful search of the building is necessary. It is said that when a flyer eats an acorn he will do so by cracking the top and hollowing it out like a mouse. This is in contrast to a gray squirrel which will open an acorn by cutting it in half.

Damage and Damage Identification

Damage to house: Since these squirrels don't have the strong teeth of a gray squirrel damage should be minimal at best. Of course wires may be chewed, but one shouldn't find the chew damage as would be found with a gray squirrel.

Damage to Lawn/Garden: I have not heard of any significant damage.

Feces: These squirrels don't like to defecate in their nest. However, you can find feces around the hole they use to access the house. I have found feces on the inside of an attic just below their exit through the vent. The feces and staining, as shown in the photo, can be quite severe. Their urine will also cause brown staining. Flyers often come in bunches so don't be surprised if you see a great deal of urine and fecal staining. It will differentiate itself from bat dropping because of the staining. Bat droppings will tend to be less sticky.

Safety: T would like to warn readers that I have heard reports that the droppings of flyers could contain the organism that causes typhus. I would strongly remind the reader to wear appropriate safety equipment when entering confined spaces.