Watch as This Baby Flying Squirrel Takes Flight for the First Time

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Where there are trees, there are often squirrels. However, as this video shows, baby flying squirrels taking flight is something entirely different to behold. I’ll readily admit I don’t get to see these too often unless I’m at the local zoo. So, let’s take a closer look at the flying squirrel and see when they take their first flight.

When Do Flying Squirrels Take Their First Flight?

A baby flying squirrel will take its first flight at around three months of age. Before that, they’re used to scavenging and foraging on their feet across trees at about 6 weeks of age. Interestingly, there is a bit of a learning curve to taking flight, but the video shows this flying squirrel’s maiden journey as a relatively smooth one.

How Far Can a Flying Squirrel Fly?

Flying squirrels can cover a fair amount of ground in a single glide. These are rather nimble creatures, able to take sudden 90-degree turns to avoid obstacles while in mid-air. Average flight distance seems to vary from 150 feet up to 500 feet, depending on conditions.

Flight is a learned behavior for these squirrels. After a relatively short gestation period, baby flying squirrels are born blind. However, they develop quickly, especially compared to other species of squirrel. Mother squirrels will teach their young the mechanics of flight relatively quickly.

Still, it isn’t an instinctual behavior by any means.

Understanding How a Flying Squirrel Flies

How these animals take flight is a bit of a misconception. Rather than fly, they’re experts at gliding. This is done through the use of a membrane called the patagium. The patagium allows any of these squirrels to glide for quite a ways, as they use a 30- to 40-degree angle of attack to take to the air. At the end of the journey, the squirrel will flatten itself, point its limbs forward, and then jut its tail upward to create a slowing effect like a parachute.

Conclusion

Flying squirrels are fascinating members of the squirrel family. While most of the Eastern United States would gladly avoid these in their homes, it is interesting to take a closer look at one of the more unusual members of the squirrel family.