It’s a Bird, It’s a Bat—No, It’s a Flying Squirrel. And It Might Be Closer Than You Think.

Many people have no idea that they share a neighborhood with one of the three flying squirrel species found in the United States: northern, southern, and Humboldt’s. That’s not so surprising when you consider that flying squirrels live in trees and come out only at night, says Corinne Diggins, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist. 

Equipped with a patagium—a flap of skin between the arms and legs—as well as a flat, rudderlike tail, flying squirrels can launch themselves from one tree and glide gently and silently toward another. Just don’t mistake these graceful descents for actual flight: The rodents have nothing on birds. “Flying squirrels don’t fly,” Diggins says. “They fall with style.” 

Aerial acrobatics aren’t all that sets these rodents apart from other squirrels. Flying squirrels are extremely chatty, Diggins says, but most of their calls are too high-pitched for human ears and can be heard only with a bat detector. These squirrels also glow pink under ultraviolet light, though scientists aren’t sure why. On top of their coolness factor, flying squirrels play an important role in forest food chains. They get nabbed by weasels, martens, foxes, and other predators—including rare and imperiled Spotted Owls, for which the rodents are a primary form of prey. 

Two species—northern and southern flying squirrels—inhabit large ranges across North America, closely tied to their preferred habitat. Northern flying squirrels mainly stick to coniferous forests; their range covers much of Canada and extends into many of the northernmost United States, with pockets as far south as North Carolina. The southern flying squirrel prefers deciduous hardwood forests, and its range neatly covers the eastern half of the United States plus some patches in Mexico. The third North American species, Humboldt's flying squirrel, occupies a small range in the Pacific Northwest and California.

What can a nature lover do to bring the elusive flying squirrel into view? You probably don’t want to hear this, but: “They’ll come to bird feeders,” Diggins says. In the wild, flying squirrels enjoy a diverse mix of truffles, fruits, nuts, insects, and even small birds. But if you were to simply slap some peanut butter suet on a tree and train a trail camera on it, Diggins says, you might just catch a glimpse of these gliding ghosts.

This story originally ran in the Fall 2025 issue as “High Flyers.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.