What Do Flying Squirrels Eat? Flying Squirrel Diet.
Curious about What Do Flying Squirrels Eat? This article discovers the dietary preferences of flying squirrels, from nuts and seeds to fruits and insects.
The flying squirrel is considered omnivorous because it is known for eating a variety of foods such as seeds, nuts, fungi, fruits, various insects, etc.
The southern flying squirrel supplements its diet with birds, eggs, and carrion and is therefore known as carnivorous like other mammals such as raccoon.
Rodents often eat a hamster and gerbil mix. Flying squirrels can also eat this rodent diet under a range of conditions.
If you want to see a flying squirrel, it is found in the deciduous forests of the United States and Canada.
It is wrong to say that the flying squirrel can fly like birds or bats. Rather, they can only glide from one tree to another.
Flying squirrels are among the common wild animals but a human rarely sees them as they are nocturnal animals. Like many other animals, flying squirrels are omnivores and their diet consists of a variety of foods.
Flying squirrels get their hydration from different foods like fruits and vegetables, which have high water content.
Fruits:
A squirrel living in the forest will resort to various fruits to satisfy its hunger. Southern flying squirrels like to eat berries, plums, pears, and apples.
Captive flying squirrels rely on fruit to sustain their diet, which keeps their digestive system functioning properly.
Because flying squirrels have a varied diet, fruit should only make up about 40 percent of their diet.
Plants, Seeds, and Nuts:
The deciduous forest produces a variety of plants, nuts, and seeds, which wild flying squirrels like to eat.
If your backyard is frequented by squirrels, it’s important to know what flying squirrels eat in the wild and feed your house guests accordingly. Along with this, it is important to ensure a balanced diet for flying squirrels.
Meat:
When it comes to eating meat, flying squirrels are more carnivorous than other tree squirrels.
Flying squirrels also eat various birds and often young rodents. Along with this, eggs and carrion are also included in the diet of the flying squirrel.
For more insights into squirrels’ diets, including their interactions with birds, check out our detailed guide on Do Squirrels Eat Birds?
Calcium:
Flying squirrels are often not seen outside during the day and are calcium deficient due to the lack of sunlight.
If the flying squirrel is not deficient in calcium, it can prevent various diseases, especially metabolic bone disease. So, it is important to add calcium whenever we offer any food to the flying squirrel.
Natural Foods:
For animals that come out at night, mushrooms are essential for calcium absorption because they are rich in D vitamins.
When you watch flying squirrels in the wild, you might see signs like their droppings. If you want to know what squirrel poop looks like, check out our detailed guide here.
Treats:
Any animal should use the treats but in small amounts. A flying squirrel can be fed almonds, black walnuts, pistachios and chestnuts, dried fruits, and flax seeds as a treat occasionally.
Commercial Diets:
Compared to tree squirrels, flying squirrels need a block in which you can add a variety of fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, broccoli, and carrots which can help squirrels satisfy their hunger at night.
A specialty block like Henry’s Healthy Pet Block is very useful for this task.
Trees:
Trees provide a great amount of nutrition to flying squirrels and when flying squirrels chew on tree branches, it keeps their teeth healthy.
Always provide flying squirrels with clean, young, and sterile branches. If you offer sap, buds, lichens, flowers, or fruit to the flying squirrel, it may help to satisfy its appetite.
Flying Squirrels:
| Common Name | Flying squirrels |
| Scientific Name | Pteromyini |
| Type | Mammals |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Average Life Span | More than five years in the wild. |
| Size | From three inches to two feet |
| Weight | Weigh 1 to 2.5 kg (2.2 to 5.5 pounds) |
What are flying squirrels?
A flying squirrel can fly at a height of 150 to 500 feet. A flying squirrel encounters many predators on the ground, so it flies from tree to tree. But to say about a flying squirrel that it flies is completely wrong, it just glides.
Just as bats and other birds have means of flying, flying squirrels do not have such flying means, but only glide using a furry membrane called a patagium.
When flying squirrels fly, these patagium connect from their wrists down to their ankles.
Geographic range:
There are over 50 species of flying squirrels. Flying Squirrels usually live in woodpecker holes or if a bird leaves its nest, the flying squirrel occupies it. In addition, flying squirrels also like to live in forests and tree cavities.
If you’re dealing with a squirrel in your home, you might want to learn How to get the squirrel out of the wall of the house.
Life History:
Northern species of flying squirrels mate once a year, while southern species like Japanese dwarf flying squirrels mate twice a year.
When flying squirrels give birth to young, they care for the young for about two months. If you keep a squirrel in captivity, it can live for about 10 years, but if you release it in the wild, it can live for five years.
Reproduction:
Flying squirrels are found in North and Central America and their children are born blind, hairless, and helpless. Female flying squirrels are responsible for raising the young.
Southern Flying Squirrels wean their young within two months while a species of flying squirrel in Southeast Asia is called the black flying squirrel. This type of squirrel weans its baby in four months.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, understanding what do flying squirrels eat reveals their remarkable adaptability. Flying squirrels are very agile creatures and are known for eating a varied diet of nuts, seeds, berries, and insects.
Such a diet plays a very important role in the flying squirrel’s aerial lifestyle. Flying squirrels using such foods maintain their flight and thrive in their natural habitats.
FAQs related to “What Do Flying Squirrels Eat?”
What can I feed flying squirrels?
If the flying squirrel is in captivity, feed it nuts such as (pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, acorns, hickory nuts) seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds), and a variety of fresh veggies like (corn, sweet potatoes)
Do flying squirrels eat chocolate?
Chocolate is a favorite food for humans, but it is dangerous for squirrels because it contains a substance called theobromine, which is toxic to squirrels.
Do flying squirrels eat raisins?
Avoid different types of dry fruits like figs, dates, and berries. On the other hand, roasted pumpkin seeds and almonds can be very healthy for squirrels.
