Northern flying squirrels don’t actually fly. They glide, stretching a furred membrane between their front and back legs to coast between trees in the conifer forest of the Blue and Wallowa mountains, 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 465 records rest almost entirely on GBIF specimen data, just 5 from iNaturalist, since this strictly nocturnal squirrel almost never crosses paths with a daytime observer or camera. Records bunch around January and again in October and November, likely tracking fall nut-caching activity and winter survey effort rather than a true summer lull, since flying squirrels stay active through the cold months.
Full species profile
