Northern flying squirrels don’t actually fly. They glide, stretching a furred membrane between their front and back legs to coast between trees in conifer forest from the western Cascades to the Wallowas, and they’re a key prey species for the northern spotted owl, one of several reasons old-growth forest structure matters to more than just the trees.
Oregon’s 15 records rest mostly on GBIF specimen data, just 5 from iNaturalist, since this strictly nocturnal squirrel almost never crosses paths with a daytime observer or camera. November holds the most records, but 15 are too few to show a seasonal pattern, and flying squirrels stay active through the cold months rather than hibernating.
Full species profile
