U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service West Virginia northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus

Imagine if small families of mastodons In 1985 the West Virginia northern flying lived in isolated areas on mountaintops. squirrel was protected as an endangered People would think such creatures were subspecies under the Endangered Species very special and that it was remarkable, Act because it was determined to be in possibly miraculous, that these animals danger of becoming extinct. At that time from ancient times were living in our only 10 squirrels were captured in four present age. separate areas of its range. Today federal and state biologists have captured more A subspecies as old as mastodons lives than 1,100 squirrels at over 100 sites, and today in isolated clusters atop the central believe that this subspecies no longer Appalachian Mountains in the highest faces the threat of extinction. elevations of West Virginia and adjacent Robert Savannah Highland County, Virginia. A relic of Small nocturnal animals, West Virginia former ages when the earth was very northern flying squirrels are covered with different, the West Virginia northern soft, dense, silky fur that is brownish flying squirrel was isolated from the above and grayish beneath. Individuals northern flying squirrel species when ice are about a foot long, half of which is the Resources, Department of Forestry and sheets covering North America receded broad, flat tail, and weigh less than five State Park commission, The Nature about 10,000 years ago. ounces. These squirrels glide in the air on Conservancy and other conservation the parachute created when they stretch groups, and private entities to foster large West Virginia northern flying squirrels all four legs and pull the loose folds of spruce restoration projects that restore live in high-elevation, spruce-northern skin (patagia) between their fore and hind the historic red spruce ecosystem of the hardwood forests of the Allegheny legs taut. Although biologists do not know Allegheny Highlands. Highlands consisting of red spruce, fir, for sure, females are thought to have one beech, yellow birch, sugar or red maple, litter of up to four young each year; the Increased monitoring of West Virginia hemlock and black cherry. The squirrel expected life span is thought to be about northern flying squirrels finds them historically lived in the old-growth spruce four years. These squirrels seem to live in dispersed throughout their historic range, forests that dominated the highlands until small groups and commonly share nests. although irregularly and at low densities. extensive industrial logging decimated They communicate with high-pitched It is unlikely that these squirrels will ever this habitat between the 1880s and the chirps. be plentiful, but their current numbers 1940s. Even in the wake of this landscape are stable, and that, coupled with the level of habitat loss, West Virginia Unlike other squirrels, West Virginia increasing acres of maturing forest and northern flying squirrels were resilient northern flying squirrels remain active in the interest in protecting the red spruce enough for a few residual populations to the winter. Their large, dark eyes enable ecosystem, creates a favorable forecast survive in small, scattered patches of less these squirrels to see in low light. During for the future of West Virginia northern than ideal habitat while forests the night, the squirrels are very active flying squirrels. regenerated over the following decades. moving among trees and on the ground. Again unlike other squirrels, West Northeast Region Doing their part Virginia northern flying squirrels usually U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service As they feed on fungi, West forage on lichen and fungi growing above 300 Westgate Center Drive Virginia northern flying squirrels and below ground instead of eating nuts. Hadley, MA 01035 disperse fungal spores and nitrogen-fixing bacteria that form The single most important factor in the Federal Relay Service a symbiotic mycorrhizal network squirrels’ population resurgence has been for the deaf and hard-of-hearing essential to the growth of red the regeneration of its forested habitat. 1 800/877 8339 spruce and other forest trees. While that natural regrowth has been There seems to be an ongoing for decades, there is considerable U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service interdependence between the and growing interest by the U.S. Forest http://www.fws.gov presence of West Virginia flying Service Monongahela National Forest and 1 800/344 WILD squirrels and the health of red Northeastern Research Station, the state spruce forests. of West Virginia Division of Natural June 2006