Siberian flying squirrel

The European sliding or flying squirrel ( Pteromys volans ) is a type of flying squirrel. It is also known as " ordinary " flying squirrel.

Features

The European flying squirrel is somewhat smaller than the squirrel, it achieved with a head-body length of 14 to 20 cm and a tail length of 9-14 cm is only about the size of a dormouse. Full-grown flying squirrel weigh 90 to 170 grams. The coat is yellow gray on top, white on the bottom. The tail is bushy and similarly colored like the coat on his back. The ears are short, they lack the characteristic tufts of hair, which is the squirrels own. Flying squirrels have large, adapted to the nocturnal life eyes. A hairy wing membrane extends from the wrist to the ankle. In sedentary animals, this is hardly visible.

Distribution and habitat

The name "European flying squirrel " is inappropriate in so far as the distribution area lies to its greatest part of Asia. The only European countries where flying squirrels live are Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus and northern Russia. From here, the distribution area of the Siberian taiga reaches into Manchuria and Korea. Also on the islands of Sakhalin and Hokkaido, it is widespread, but is replaced on the other Japanese islands from the Japanese flying squirrel.

The animals are to be found mainly in mixed forests with birch, alder, and various conifers.

Way of life

The wing membrane would allow the animals to glide up to 80 meters long distances through the air. The wing membrane is tensioned by a sword-shaped cartilage that extends from the wrist. You can control the flight with the help of the tail and the legs both up and down as well as horizontally. On landing, the flight skin slows down the speed. Flying Squirrel lie down in tree hollows a spherical nest of lichens and mosses on where they sleep during the day. In some cases you will find the nests in nest boxes. The flying squirrel used but also by the squirrels abandoned Kobel. At night, the flying squirrel then go in search of food. The menus contain various leaves, flowers, berries, nuts, buds and seeds. If in winter ( flying squirrels do not hibernate ) the food is scarce, they also take with needles and bark to be content. In tree hollows they also stock of food supplies.

After a gestation period of four weeks, the female gives birth in the spring, two to four young. They are initially blind and naked. The eyes begin to open after four weeks. At this time, the coat is developed. Two weeks later, the young leave the nest for the first time. At the dam they often stay for several months, sometimes even through the winter. Flying Squirrel females usually live alone in their 4-9 acre area. Other females will not be tolerated in the area. The area of the Flying Squirrel male is up to 60 acres in size and includes several areas of female animals. The territories of males may overlap. Especially in winter, several males may share the same nest. Usually males and females come together only during the mating season (March to May). The worst enemies of the European Flying Squirrel are marten, sable and various species of owls.

People and Flying Squirrel

Especially in Russia, flying squirrels are hunted for their fur, which comes under names such as " Molenda " or "Flying Dog" in the trade. Often the coat is stained and mounted as a fur trim on dresses.

The existence of the European flying squirrel is not globally threatened, as it has a very large distribution area. Regionally, however, is threatened in some places, so it is in Finland and Estonia on the national red list and is in Estonia the symbolic animal of the Estonian Nature Conservation Fund. According to the latest census, there are 140,000 female flying squirrel in Finland. The stock has fallen dramatically over the last 20 years. Of the flying squirrel of the European Union, over 90 percent live in Finland. In Latvia, the flying squirrel is considered extinct.