There are two types of flying squirrels native to North America, the Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels. They do not have wings like birds, but they do have excess skin on their bodies between their legs that spreads out and acts as wings when they "fly" from tree to tree in the forest. There are several other species of the flying squirrel native to Asia and Central and South America, as well. They are mammals and belong to the genus Glaucomys, and they range over much of North America, from Canada to the Gulf Coast. In appearance, they look more like chinchillas, pikas, or even hamsters than traditional squirrels. They are extremely tiny, and can be hard to spot if you go looking for them in the forest. They are grey or brown in color, and are covered in dense, soft fur. They will bite if you try to handle them.
             The Northern flying squirrel ranges from Nova Scotia to Alaska, and as far south as California and North Carolina. The Southern flying squirrel lives from Canada to the Gulf Coast on the eastern United States. Both species live in tall trees and glide from tree to tree in search of their food, which includes nuts, vegetation, fruit, and fungi. They are also known to eat flowers, bark, and even carrion, especially in the winter. They will also eat insects, birds' eggs and young birds, and they will store nuts and seeds as winter approaches. They have extremely good eyesight to help them hunt at night, and they have extremely large eyes, as well. The cold can make them extremely lethargic, and on extremely cold days they may only wake up enough to eat their storehouse of winter food they store near their nests.
             Flying squirrels are nocturnal, and sleep inside nests inside tree trunks during the day. They can also make nests in old woodpecker nests, and in the eaves of houses or other hollow or protected areas. They hunt for food at night, and their main predators are hawks and owls, along with other birds...