It Glides

Flying Squirrel? Earl Plato
Carolinian forest - Marcy’s Woods - Hooded warbler - Hog-nosed snake - Southern flying squirrel. Did I say Southern flying squirrel? Yes, both Patty (Marcy) Richards and long time Marcy’s Woods advocate, Dr. Rick Stockton, testify to many sightings over the years of this diminutive forest creature. Well, on a past December 12th morning, this writer saw this squirrel. To you who have been here before let me set up the scenario. As you cross the open area of the Kennels’ property you head for the middle road/ path of the three. At this entrance at the beginning route to Marcy’s Woods are two tall Norway spruces on either side of the road/path. It was a bright but very windy day and the tall spruces were swaying back and forth. . Then I saw it! A squirrel leaped from the top of the spruce on the right and glided to the spruce on the left. The distance we estimated had to be 25-30 feet. I yelled and Ray caught a glimpse. What I saw was more gray than brown on the body. It turned momentarily on the branch. It was a small squirrel with large eyes. A Southern flying squirrel? We think so. When we returned a few hours later we looked for this little guy. Ray picked out what seemed like a small nest on the one spruce.
I went home and found my drawing of a Northern flying squirrel that I made at Stony Lake a few years previously.
Our Southern flying Squirrel is our smallest tree squirrel. Tail and all it’s only 10 inches long. Half of that is tail. Why don’t we see more? It and its larger cousin above are the only nocturnal squirrels in Ontario. Yes, they occasionally are seen in the day. Believe me.
It does not truly fly but glides. We are told that it can glide well over 100 feet. Wow! It’s an endangered species! Our Ministry of Natural Resource team found three pairs living in Marcy Woods. One more reason to keep Marcy Woods preserved, eh.
With legs outstretched and the fold of skin (white in colour) spread between foreleg and hind leg that acts as a combination parachute and glider wing, I have seen this nature phenomenon.
Writer’s Note: No need to tell you about what you can do to avoid West Nile Virus. Read the Ontario province’s information brochure thoroughly and take action. “Fight the Bite!”