What Are Important Facts about Night Gliders?

Night gliders, also known as flying squirrels, are small, furry nocturnal rodents. They earned the name night gliders because of their nocturnal nature and gliding ability. The coat of night gliders is shiny brown in color along its upper body and from milky white to cream color on its belly. Their eyes, which are large and deep dark brown, allow them to see at night. They have very long and delicate whiskers. Their noses may seem tiny but they have a keen sense of smell. They often live and forage together. Their life span is about 5 years in the wild and about 13 years in the captivity.

  1. Night Gliders of America

    • The two species of the night gliders -- the Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) and the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) -- are found in the North America. Both of them are similar in color, but the Northern Flying Squirrel is the bigger in size. The Northern Flying Squirrel is found from Alaska and Canada to Northern California, Colorado to Central Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Tennessee, the Appalachian Mountains, Sierra Nevada and Black Hills. The Southern Flying Squirrel is found from southeastern Canada to the eastern United States and Mexico to Honduras.

    Do They Really Fly?

    • Flying squirrels may look like they are flying at first glance but they don't really fly. They glide from branch to branch using a flap of loose skin, which connects their front and hind legs, as a sail, according to Enchanted Learning. They can glide up to 150 feet and change direction using their tail. While gliding they have been seen to make sharp 90 degree turns before they land. While landing the loose skin acts a parachute and slows them down. They land by gripping the branch or trunk of tree with all four legs.

    Bevioral Issues as Pets

    • The regulations about keeping a night glider as a pet vary from region to region; in some places it is illegal, and in others a special permit must be obtained. A night glider kept in captivity might exhibit behavioral problems, according to the National Flying Squirrel Association. For example, it might suddenly become aggressive, attempting to bite its owner. There could be several reasons for this behavior. For example, the owner's hand might smell like food or have an odor the night glider dislikes, such as certain soaps, hairspray, lotions and colognes. In addition, the way in which they are picked up by their owners may cause them to act out as well; they should be picked up gently, because sudden grabbing makes them nervous. To dissuade the night glider from trying to bite, owners may spray their pets with water from a spray bottle set to a fine mist; it is relatively harmless yet very effective, states the National Flying Squirrel Association.

    Predators of Night Gliders

    • Night gliders have many predators, which vary depending on the geographical area where they reside. Owls, martens, fishers, raccoons, coyotes, house cats, bobcats, lynxes, weasels and snakes are common predators of night gliders. Night gliders are very alert and become very still when they detect the presence of a predator and then decide how to escape if the predator attacks.

    Night Gliders as Pests

    • Night gliders often live in houses and barns by making their dens in them. This is highly undesirable as they make too much noise at night and scatter the litter all around from nests and seed caches. Homeowners might buy traps to catch night gliders, or repellent to keep them from nesting in their houses.