Flying Squirrel Environment
A large indoor aviary makes a good habitat for a pet Flying Squirrel . This needs to be designed for smaller birds such as finches, as otherwise the bar spacing may be too large and allow escapees. Arboreal vivariums are another option, although it is important to add additional ventilation to these. Wooden garden trellis make excellent climbing opportunities to add inside your vivarium to make up for the lack of climbable bars.
Although slightly smaller than sugar gliders, the minimum cage size would seem to match activity level - with 4 foot high, 2 x 2 giving a good starting point.
Furnishing the cage can involve items such as hanging nests and hammocks, wooden and rope parrot toys, and sisal rope. It is important to ensure your squirrel still has a decent area for jumping and gliding so the cage should not be too crowded. Multiple nest boxes are a good idea, especially if you have more than one animal.
A good idea for a home made cage is to have both a full hinged door to allow cleanouts, but also a much smaller door to allow quick food and water changes.
Further ideas on this can be found in our How to Furnish a Vivarium for an Exotic Rodent article.
Flying Squirrel Diet
Flying Squirrels can eat a range of normal rodent foods, such as a hamster and gerbil mix. This needs to be supplemented by the items below and is vital that they have a good source of calcium.
Calcium Supplement
They must have a calcium supplement added to their food and sufficient vitamin D to be able to absorb this. These come in either liquid or powdered form. Liquid can be added to water or syringed into small pieces of fruit and powdered can be sprinkled over food items.
Cuttlebones should also be supplied.
Seeds and nuts
Items include Brazil nuts, hazel nuts, hemp, safflower, buckwheat, pumpkin seeds, hazelnut.
Good treats are pecan nuts which can be used as a training aid since the fat content means they should be offered sparingly.
Fruit
Such as Apples, blueberries, oranges, melon, papaya.
Protein
Items such as dried or live insects, boiled egg or chicken.
Flying Squirrel Behaviour
Southern Flying Squirrels are sometimes known as pocket pets. I personally think this term is very misleading; these are extremely active, curious and intelligent rodents. There may well be some individuals that are more affectionate than others, but expecting them to stay still for any length of time when there are things for them to explore - and they can explore everything - seems unlikely!
Southern Flying Squirrels can glide around 5-25 feet and are good chewers. They are very intelligent and love exploring. A young squirrel may benefit from time in a bonding pouch each evening against you whilst they get used to you. You can also use pecan nuts as a useful training aid as these are especially loved.
Your squirrel will be most active later on in the evening. They are very fast and can be quite demanding - making a serious of loud squeaks if you've forgotten to let them free-range at their usual time for example. You can tell when a flying squirrel is deciding to glide as they often bob their head up and down before launching themselves.
Remember if you have a young squirrel, or you have recently moved your furniture around or got new items - that your flying squirrel may need to learn new distances and combinations for their jumps. This also means that they will sometimes miss!
Squirrel Proofing your house!
- The Toilet is a danger to your squirrel as if they fall in, they cannot climb out and will drown. Leave the toilet lid down, or better still, have the bathroom off limits. You can adapt a wire mesh and create a small ladder to allow them to climb out if you need to.
- Chewable items such as wooden ornaments, cardboard sleeves for DVD cases, even wooden doors may suffer from a flying squirrel's teeth. Remove anything that has a sentimental value and be suspicious of any squirrel that stays still too long!
- Heavy/breakable items need to be moved. Things like vases and ornaments from your shelves if they are a weight that a flying squirrel could topple.
- Humans are very interesting to flying squirrels and provide a wonderful climbing frame to scramble to the top of and launch themselves back across the room. Take care when walking and never step or sit down on something without checking it first.
Overview of Flying Squirrels
The two species of New World flying squirrels are Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys volans) sometimes known as Eastern Flying Squirrels, and the less commonly seen Northern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus). They are both found in the wild in North America and have similar care requirements in captivity.
Northern Flying Squirrels are the larger at 25-37 cm with dark belly hair tipped with white. The smaller Southern Flying Squirrels measure around 21-25cm and are more commonly seen for sale by private breeders although both have high price tags as not many seem to be breeding readily in the UK. It has been suggested that this may be due to a need to breed communally, although some keepers have had success with 1:1 pairings.
Although not quite to the same extent as Jerboas it is important to source your squirrels carefully from reputable breeders and to avoid encouraging wild caught animals. No pet should be obtained at the expense of wild populations.
Flying Squirrels can glide using a furred membrane known as patagium which extends between the wrists of the front feet and the ankles of the hind feet. Since distances have been recorded at up to 45m although between 5-25 is more normal, it is important to give these animals as much space as possible so your pet flying squirrels are happy. A large aviary environment is ideal, although a very large viviarum could potentially be adapted by adding additional ventilation. See Flying Squirrel - Environment for more details.
A Flying Squirrels Diet is less complicated that the more fruit-based sugar gliders, but still requires a varied range of seeds, nuts, fresh and protein and a calcium supplement.
Flying Squirrels as pets are very active, curious little rodents who will enjoy exploring your house and you. Providing you have squirrel proofed your house, in much the same way as you would for a pair of Sugar Gliders then free-ranging your flying squirrels is recommended each night. You will need a good bond with your flying squirrel to be able to capture them again, although some individuals may chose to return to their aviary if the door is simply left open.
Flying Squirrels are a big commitment given they may live up to 15 years, need a large habitat, constant handling and any vet bills could be very high. They are very active and can bond quite closely with their owner. Bonding to your flying squirrel is best done whilst young, and bonding pouches are very useful for this. Although many flying squirrels are born in large, communal aviaries they should be able to be tamed providing you are prepared to research and spend a regular amount of time with them.