Flying squirrels are nocturnal, so if you want to catch a glimpse, stay up late or set up a trail cam.
Doug Metz, South Central Power Company
Q. Hi, Chip: Here’s a somewhat random question. I’ve read how prevalent flying squirrels are in southeastern Ohio, but I’ve never seen one. Any suggestions on how to do that, or at least capture a photo of one on a trail camera?
A. Flying squirrels are common statewide, Doug, where woodlots or forest habitats are found, but relatively few people ever see one in the wild because these small rodents are strictly nocturnal. In all my years spent outdoors, I’ve only seen a handful of flying squirrels, and the sightings were always at night and associated with birdfeeders. Flying squirrels are attracted to feeders for the same reason winter songbirds are, to eat the seeds.
The first flying squirrel I ever saw was feeding regularly on a birdfeeder near the backdoor of my house, and I didn’t know it. But one winter night, I happened to turn on the porchlight and there it was! The squirrel quickly scampered away when the light came on, but once I knew that flying squirrels were using my feeder, I enjoyed seeing them for a few seconds each time I flicked on the light, night after night.
If you don’t happen to have a birdfeeder located near a light source that you can turn on and off, mount a trail camera to monitor a birdfeeder after dark. If there are flying squirrels in your area, you’ll eventually have your photo. Just remember to turn the camera on only at dusk, or you’ll end up with countless photos of songbirds taken during the day instead of flying squirrels.
The most memorable encounter I ever had with a flying squirrel happened years ago and began with a screech owl sighting. Screech owls are the Buckeye State’s most numerous owl, and late one winter afternoon a screech owl flew in and perched on one of my birdfeeders. It was the final week of February, and the month had brought a foot and a half of snow and brutally cold temperatures. But the screecher wasn’t there to feed on birdseed. I suspected he had other ideas.
After dark, I kept checking on the owl with a flashlight shined through the window, and hour after hour it remained perched on the feeder. About 10 p.m., I decided to take one last look before heading for bed. The owl was gone and I thought, well, that’s that; it flew off. But when I shined the light at the base of the feeder, there on the ground was the screech owl, locked in a ferocious life-and-death battle, but with what?
I threw on a jacket, grabbed my camera, and bounded out the door, hurriedly making my way through the deep snow hoping the owl would still be there by the time I arrived. It was, and what the screech owl clutched in its talons was startling — a flying squirrel!
The battle lasted about an hour before the squirrel finally died. Once the fight was over, however, the owl was in no hurry to feed. It sat perched upon its prey in the snow, apparently recovering from the exertion of the fight.
After taking a few photos, I went back into the warm house and checked on the owl periodically through the window. About midnight, it was finally gone, likely taking the flying squirrel up off the ground to a nearby tree limb to feed on it.
