I have a friend who feeds flying squirrels every night.

She has called late at night for years. and it is so much fun being there when they come! They smack the side of the tree and shimmy down it to enjoy nuts, fruit and peanut butter. They chitter as they congregate to enjoy their evening meal, as we enjoy watching and listening to them.

Yes, we have flying squirrels in our area.

Ohio has the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys Volans), though other sources say the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) overlaps Ohio as a territory.

It is said to be the most common squirrel in Ohio, but because it is nocturnal, we do not usually see them.

This squirrel has gray / olive / black fur, with a white abdomen and a flap of loose skin along each side connected from the wrist to the ankle.

These patagia (patagium singular) are used for gliding from tree to tree. No, it is not like Rocky and Bullwinkle.

The flying squirrel does not fly, but it glides from tree to tree, from high altitudes to lower altitudes and then back up.

The tail is short — about half the body length. It is flat and hairy. It is used like a rudder in the air. It also has sharp claws for climbing and huge black eyes for seeing at night. It lives in hardwood to mixed coniferous forests, near water and is active year-round.

These amazing squirrels breed twice a year, April / May and August / September, with two to six young per litter after a 40-day gestation period.

They nest in hollow trees, woodpecker holes and other holes in trees. They are 8.3 to 10.2 inches in length including tail and weigh 2 to 3 ounces. These squirrels live up to five years.

One distinction and clue to whether or not you have a flying squirrel around your house is the way they eat.

When they pick up a nut they sink a tooth in it to anchor it as they fly. Then when they sit to eat, they eat the nut from the bottom and hollow it out. So, as I have, you will find a nut that has the notch of the tooth. And the bottom ate out.

What a joy it is to know there are these amazing creatures among us!

https://go.osu.edu/flyingsquirrel

Hughes is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.