The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel- Trevor Nicholson

The Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel

Trevor Nicholson

(wildsouth.org)

What is it?

Two types of flying squirrel that exist in the Southern Appalachians, the northern (Glaucomys sabrinus) and the more common southern (Glaucomys volans). A subspecies of the northern flying squirrel, the endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel is about one-third larger than its southern counterpart. The Carolina northern flying squirrel is nocturnal and very, very small, about 260-305 mm long and weighing only 90-140g. Contrary to what the name suggests, they do not actually fly, but rather glide with the aid of fur-covered flaps of skin connected to the wrists and ankle and long, broad tails. The northern flying squirrel is typically found in cool, moist areas where hardwood trees are adjacent to higher-elevation fir forests. The Carolina northern flying squirrel specifically is found throughout the high mountain peaks of southwest Virginia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. In addition to the widely spaced trees, which are useful for the gliding locomotion, these forests have an abundance of fungi and lichens that the Carolina northern flying squirrel principally feeds on.

(fws.org)

One problem for the Carolina northern flying squirrel is the fact that the type of forest it thrives in tends to be one of the most threatened types of forests in the south. Much of the habitat used by the squirrel has been fragmented or degraded by things such as development, introduced pests or diseases, and pollution. Primarily, as human population continues to increase in the Southern Appalachians, more of these forests are being destroyed to make way for more urban development, thus destroying the homes of the Carolina northern flying squirrel. Two areas specifically, the Plott Balsams and Long Hope Valley, are particularly threatened by urban development. If these areas were to be destroyed, it would disconnect many of the habitats from each other and also result in a loss of an entire recovery area.

The population of the Carolina northern flying squirrel saw a massive decline due to logging in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Commercial logging was the primary cause of the roughly 500,000 acres of forest that these squirrels inhabited to be cut down to a mere 200 acres. AS the population declined, it made it harder for the squirrel, who only reproduces every few years and has a small litter of 1-6 offspring, to try and maintain its population size.

The Carolina northern flying squirrel was officially listed as endangered on July 1, 1985.

Why was it listed?

The majority of reasons for the listing of the Carolina northern flying squirrel as endangered are not natural causes. Habitat destruction or degradation through the clear-cutting of forests, introduced pests, recreational development, such as the building of mountain highways and ski resorts, urban development, and pollution are far greater risks than anything natural.

Recovery plan:

1.     Get a clear and definitive picture of the range of the Carolina northern flying squirrel through surveys of former capture sites and areas that could be suitable habitat for the squirrels.

2.     Once the range of the Carolina northern flying squirrel has been successfully determined, it is important to keep these areas safe from interference by humans and preserve the squirrels’ habitat.

3.     After protecting the squirrels’ habitat, it is important to explore its ecology, mainly diet and habitat requirements.

4.     Finally, test the Carolina northern flying squirrel’s reaction to changes in habitat in order to improve the habitat around it. Also part of step four is to find ways to harvest trees without disturbing the flying squirrel population.

What can you do?

There is not much that we as individuals can do to help the Carolina northern flying squirrel. But they are not at all a lost cause. In fact, according to the 5-Year Survey by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the populations are currently considered to be stable, but the information found is not enough to consider dropping them from endangered to threatened.

Of the many things done to aid the Carolina northern flying squirrel, perhaps the most creative and useful idea came from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. They noticed that the building of roads was a main cause of the fragmentation of the squirrels’ habitat. The group constructed large wooden poles, 47 feet tall, in order to help the squirrels to have a platform to glide across these roads.

(thenaturalistscorner.com)

Now not everyone has to build a 47-foot-tall wooden pole in their yard in order to help these creatures. Currently, the most important thing we as individuals can do to help these mysterious creatures is to try and learn more about them and where they live in order to not cause them more harm.

Resources

·      Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. "Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office." Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2016.

·      Annapolis Field Office, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Appalachian Northern Flying Squirrel Recovery Plan (1990): n. pag. Web.

·      US Fish and Wildlife Service. Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel 5-Year Review (2013): n. pag. Fws.org. US Fish and Wildlife Service. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.

·      Web, Animal Diversity. "Critter Catalog." BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Glaucomys Sabrinus, Northern Flying Squirrel: INFORMATION. University of Michigan, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2016.

·      Walker, Cheryl. "Saving Endangered Flying Squirrels." Wake Forest News. N.p., 7 Dec. 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.