One of the coolest backyard critters...

[CRUZTAKER]

Most of us up north have them, but have likely never seen them.

The Northern Flying Squirrel is quite a sight, if one is fortunate enough to actually see them. This variety is completely nocturnal. Mine come out after 7pm in the winter, and feed up until around 10pm or so.

I first saw them three years ago in the late summer. I was walking to the barn and heard a noise in a large pine. Sitting on an ear of corn I stick on nails driven into the tree, was an animal I had never seen. I video taped it, and called the zoo thinking someone in the neighborhood had lost a pet. It looked a lot like one of those chinchilla things.

The zoo curator laughed and knew imediately what I had seen.

Since that day, they will occationally startle me in the evening with their lightning speed, and ability to jump from my pine to my willow some 35' away with all the grace of spiderman. The few that frequent my yard are very trusting, and allow approaches of up to only 16" away face to face.

They have been very active these past few weeks. Likely stock piling seed and nuts.

I would like to share some pics I took a few moments ago.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/2007-2011.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/2007-2009.jpg

[ImpalaSlayer]

that thing is pretty damn cool looking

[MM03MOK]

Way Cool!! :D

[hdwrenchtx]

too funny by the cat crossing sign :)

[Raudermaster]

That's pretty cool! Never seen one before. Too bad you didn't get a picture of it flying!

[Bigdogjim]

It's Rocky!!!!!

You found him:up:

[J D]

Rocky!
heh, I couldn't help myself, someone was bound to say it anyway, but awesome Cruz that's awesome.

[RoyLPita]

Nice pics. :up:

[CRUZTAKER]

I may never catch the flying on digital. Too difficult in the dark.

Here are a few more. They are making such a racket. Sounds like mice in the trees.:P

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/flyingsquirrel007.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/flyingsquirrel004.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/flyingsquirrel003.jpg

[RoyLPita]

Keep them coming, Barry. :D

[Zack]

Flying Squirrels, FTW!

Is John Kuhn there?

[mpearce]

It's nice to see that someone actually appreciates these animals, instead of wanting to kill them. Thanks for sharing Barry.

[ImpalaSlayer]

the first of the second set looks like a chris angel squirl lol

[glassman99]

Our cat has brought home two so far. He would bring them in the house and play with them. We rescued them and they are now pets. They jump from one person to another and are very tame, but yes they do wake up at night!

[MM03MOK]

Our cat has brought home two so far. He would bring them i nthe house and play with them. We rescued them and they are now pets. They jump from one person to another and are very tame, but yes they do wake up at night!
Pictures, please!!!! :D

[CRUZTAKER]

Pictures, please!!!! :D


Ditto on that. I have see this.;)

[ctrlraven]

They look like a Sugar Glider. Almost want to bet that someone had one a long time ago and it either got loose or was set free.
http://img35.photobucket.com/albums/v107/katiedid/Web%20pictures/glider_and_flyer7_text.jpg

The racket they make, does it almost sound like a barking sound?

[Colonel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHuYXrz1ZqM

[FastMerc]

Pretty cool shots Barry never knew they were around here?

[CRUZTAKER]

The racket they make, does it almost sound like a barking sound?


Mine sound like rabid MICE. I always know they are out and about from the shrill squeeking.

[Mike Poore]

We've got 'em in there parts, but have only seen them one time in 40yrs at this home. Way cool, Barry, thanks for the post. :)

[LordVader]

Cool pics..for both sets of critters. At work I have two squirrels outside my window, but just plain old grays..no wing flaps on either of these two..

[Vortech347]

Thats bad ass!!!! I've got a neighborhood barn owl we leave our older (but not rotted or spoiled) meat out for. Its awesome because the stray cats in our neighborhood are scared ****less of him and stay out of my yard cause he's usually on my deck at night.

He's huge. I have a pic of him sitting on the corner of my deck looking into the wetlands area behind my house for other things to eat.

[Local Boy]

Wild life is COOOOOOOL......

Thanks for the pics.

ALOHA

[mcb26]

We have them at our house down here too. Little buggers are quick, We lived there about 2 months before anyone else saw them. Everyone was accusing me of being on drugs. I don't think they are northern flying squirrels though, they carry little confederate flags and eat grits.

[Tom Doan]

Caught one when I was a little kid and it made a good pet but after a couple of months it flew in to the toilet and that was the end, leave them out side. Tom

[Aren Jay]

I saw almost drove over a white with black tipped tail weasel today.

[Marauderjack]

We have hundreds of squirrels.....fox squirrels....but my favorite is our American Bald Eagle!!!:beer:

They sit on my dock a lot but are very timid and hard to get close enough to photograph....I was lucky with the attached photo!!:D

Marauderjack:burnout: