Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans (Linnaeus, 1758)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Mammalia   >   Order Rodentia   >   Family Sciuridae   >   Genus Glaucomys   

Status:

The Southern Flying Squirrel is found throughout Maryland, especially in wooded areas with lots of hardwoods. Because they are nocturnal, they are rarely detected; however, they may actually outnumber Eastern Gray Squirrels in parts of the state. They do not actually fly, of course, but glide by extending their legs and using loose flaps of skin as a sort of parachute. They steer in part by using their tails as rudders. As the weather cools, they will not hibernate, but roost communally with as many as 10 or 20 other flying squirrels.

Relationships:

Host to the flea species Opisodasys pseudarctomys (Eckerlin, 2011).

There are 210 records in the project database.

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A Southern Flying Squirrel calling in Harford Co., Maryland (9/22/2015). - Matt Hafner.

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A Southern Flying Squirrel in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/26/2018). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (4/6/2020). (c) msimon2252, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by msimon2252 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/3/2013). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/3/2013). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Howard Co., Maryland (5/15/2008). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/17/2011). Photo by Wendy Crowe. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/3/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Howard Co., Maryland (8/17/2010). Photo by Kevin Heffernan. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrel in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (11/9/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/8/2013). Photo by Mary B. Hollinger. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/2/2016). Photo by Jared Fisher. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Howard Co., Maryland (5/15/2008). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrel in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/3/2020). (c) oriolekec1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by oriolekec1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Howard Co., Maryland (5/15/2008). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/16/2014). Photo by Lori Byrne. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrels in Harford Co., Maryland (6/27/2017). Photo by Mary Sweet. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/11/2015). Photo by Andy Connelly. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/26/2018). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel in Baltimore Co., Maryland (2/1/2014). Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Baby Southern Flying Squirrels in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (3/18/2018). Photo by Nancy Raginski. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrel in Washington Co., Maryland (5/16/2021). (c) hollyk11, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by hollyk11 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrel in Maryland (4/18/2019). (c) naturelady, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by naturelady via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Southern Flying Squirrel accidentally caught in a Northern Saw-whet Owl net in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (10/26/2015). Photo by Maren Gimpel. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrels in Calvert Co., Maryland (11/16/2020). (c) Benji Beluga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrel in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/5/2019). (c) Nik Hughes, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Nik Hughes via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Southern Flying Squirrel harassed by a Red-bellied Woodpecker in Howard Co., Maryland (3/19/2022). (c) Clayton Koonce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Clayton Koonce via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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