Flying Squirrel
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
Canada
December 28, 2016 3:45pm CST
Walking by my front window after dark in my living room I noticed my bird feeder was swing back and forth. I stepped out onto the porch to see why. There was no wind, and as I stood there staring in the dark I could see what I thought was a bigger than a song bird but a bird going from the tree to the feeder. Then I got a flash light and low and behold it was a tiny, very cute animal looking almost like a mouse with big eyes and it fly's!
My daughter said it was a flying squirrel so I got my camera and tried to get a photo of it but that little animal was fast, too fast for me and my camera...I got lots of photos of nothing ...just dark.
I watched him for a while and then it was gone, probably to a more hidden bird feeder in the neighborhood.
Have you ever seen one? I believe this is my first flying squirrel and he/she was adorable...
Below is a link to some info on Flying Squirrels, I hope you can see it. If not, just google Flying Squirrels and look on line at the cute photos.
The photo above is my house covered in snow... but no squirrel in the photo.
Flying isn't just for the birds. A stretchy membrane and rudder-like tail help this little mammal sail through the treetops, avoiding land-bound predators with ease.
20 people like this
21 responses
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
I didn't think they would be pets but I looked it up and they certainly are. I'm guessing they are native. I just looked and yes they are, but because they come out at night not many see them. I learn something every day!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338640)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate There is such a lot to learn though, isn't there?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
28 Dec 16
I have never seen a flying squirrel but I can imagine that they are very cute.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
28 Dec 16
I got a link that works with a video of one flying...just added it to the post.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
They are nocturnal I just found out and he visited my feeder last night again, I hope to get a photo...
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Dec 16
The snow provides a soft landing just in case the squirrel falls.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
You are right but the snow was packed pretty tight under the bird feeder.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
Now that I know its around I will be looking for it again...
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
28 Dec 16
And here I was scrutinizing the picture trying to find the squirrel.. it's like playing Where's Waldo or I Spy... then I read the discussion and realized there is no squirrel in the picture.
I think a fox ran past my house last night, but I wasn't close enough to tell forsure that it was a fox.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
We see a fox or two every years in the ravine behind the house. Sorry I couldn't get a shot of him, I tried!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
31 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate Mostly I see a lot of deer, possums, and skunks!
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
@katsmeow1213 he showed up again last night and I watched him or her do their thing from the window in my jammies...I will try to get a shot if he's going to stick around.
@rebelann (112738)
• El Paso, Texas
31 Dec 16
Must be so kool to get to see one @PainsOnSlate I've got my fingers crossed that you'll get a shot of it.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
I thought it was a bird but then wondered why it was out after dark. He showed up last night again, tonight I'll be looking for him with my camera.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (470745)
• Switzerland
31 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate I did not know that they are nocturnal, it must be hard to see them.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
@LadyDuck when I first saw it I thought it was a bird...but it was dark outside. I do have a street light at the end of my driveway and could see its shape and its flying, It came back last night too so I am going to try to get a photo...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
Just found out they are nocturnal so that must be why I hadn't seen him yet, but he was here last night and I will try to get a photo as long as he is enjoying my bird feeder,
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
The flying squirrel is not in the photo, It is in the video. The photo is my old porch a few years ago, It was a pretty porch but had to be taken down when we had a sewer problem so the new one is a bit bigger and fancier...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
2 Jan 17
@DianneN That was the original porch. It was pretty and worked well until we had to break it down for the sewer people to get to the sewer coming out of the house. The new one is done and I did a story about it, I see you commented on it too so you know that...
We haven't had that much snow yet but I'm sure we will before its over. I look forward to have the landscaping around the porch in the spring. It looks so bare right now.
We haven't had that much snow yet but I'm sure we will before its over. I look forward to have the landscaping around the porch in the spring. It looks so bare right now.1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
2 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate Is that the porch your son is building?
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102072)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
29 Dec 16
I am old enough to remember the cartoon character Rocky Squirrel who could fly. A flying squirrel in your town? Now that is amazing.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
I'm old enough to remember that cartoon too... I have never seen one in the yard before but will be looking for it again.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
@Deepizzaguy I saw it again last night but I was in my pajamas and its cold here so I didn't go out with my camera.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102072)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
31 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate Seeing a flying squirrel would be amazing.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
29 Dec 16
Nope I have never seen one. Of course in documentaries but never in person.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
Just found out they are nocturnal, so I am going to try to catch him with my camera..
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
31 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate I hope you do I would love to see it.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
Thats cool, someone else said they bit and so she took it back. I looked it up because I thought it might be against the law but its not in a lot of areas and its called a pocket pet...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
3 Jan 17
@Babs0630 I have raccoons in my backyard in the spring, they have their babies in the hole in some of the big trees in behind my house. They are fun to watch but we are warned to leave them alone only because they carry rabies. (that and to let the wild stay wild)
1 person likes this
@Babs0630 (487)
•
3 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate I have raised many squerrils,one set of flying ones and 2raccoons! They are so much much fun
1 person likes this
@TheInvisibleMan (17597)
•
29 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate Yeah, but I like them anyway. 
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
29 Dec 16
The photo was from the past, we had snow but it melted over the last two days, but not that much snow as in the photo. The old porch was nice but had to come down because the sewer had to be dug up and it started under the porch. The new one is similar only a bit bigger and prettier too..
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
3 Jan 17
@PainsOnSlate My father actually caught them somehow or someone gave them to him. I'm not sure which and he is no longer alive so I can't ask.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
Interesting, I just looked it up to see and they are sold in pet store in different areas, they call them pocket pets.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82582)
• United States
29 Dec 16
I've never seen a flying squirrel but I know that squirrels can jump pretty far. Your house looks pretty all covered in snow even though the squirrel didn't pose for your picture.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
We don't have that much snow right now but we will before the winter is over... I just read some info on the flying squirrel and it is native but most people don't know it because they are our and active in the dark...I am going to try to get a photo - he visited me last night too.
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
29 Dec 16
I've heard of them but haven't seen any in my area @PainsOnSlate .
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40279)
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Dec 16
One of our daughters got a pet flying squirrel at a pet store, but it turned out to be a mean little thing that kept nipping her, so she took it back. That was the only one I saw.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
I would imagine because its a wild animal and probably should not be sold as a pet. Glad you took it back, I would have told my vet too, because it is probably against the law to sell them...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
31 Dec 16
@DeborahDiane I don't know for sure it is against the law but every state and country is different. I was guessing because it is a wild animal it probably is protected from humans. I just looked it up and it is allowed and its called a pocket pet.... who knew. 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40279)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate - It never occurred to me that it would be against the law, since our daughter bought it at a store. That was nearly 20 years ago, in Texas, so things may have changed since then.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
29 Dec 16
Thats a beautiful photo..more so because I've never experienced snowfall. Is a flying squirrel a bat ? Then I have seen them otherwise no.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
30 Dec 16
No they look like a squirrel only their legs are attached to something like a parachute but its part of its body. Very interesting little animal.
1 person likes this
