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Southern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys volans

Mammal · family Sciuridae · order Rodentia

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
36 states[3]
Longest recorded life
19 years[4]

The Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is a small mammal in the squirrel family, Sciuridae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is native to 36 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Southern Flying Squirrel a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a United States rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe also gives state ranks, shown in the table on this page[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Southern Flying Squirrel lives

NatureServe lists this squirrel as native in 36 US states and territories[3]. They stretch from Texas, Kansas and Minnesota in the west to Maine, Massachusetts and Florida in the east[3]. The District of Columbia is also on the list[3]. A state list shows where the species is recorded, not a promise that you will see it there[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank SUMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: native, state rank S4IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: native, state rank S1NEMissouri: native, state rank S4MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S3KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank S3OKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: native, state rank SNRFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (36 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS4Apparently Secure
KansasS3Vulnerable
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineSUUnrankable
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS4Apparently Secure
NebraskaS1Critically Imperiled
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaS3Vulnerable
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS4Apparently Secure
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records forest habitat for this squirrel, both hardwood and mixed forest, along with suburban or orchard areas and riparian (streamside) places[10]. It tends to like leafy forests with trees such as beech, maple, oak, hickory and poplar, and it also turns up in old orchards[11]. For dens it favors small holes left by woodpeckers[11]. It will also use nest boxes and old bird or squirrel nests[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

NatureServe records a length of 25 cm (10 in)[12]. It records a weight of 70 g[13]. It eats both plants and animals, including seeds, fruits and insects[14]. One estimate of its diet is 40% seeds, 30% other plant material and 30% fruit[15]. NatureServe notes that it feeds on insects in spring and stores food for winter[16]. Pregnancy lasts about 40 days, and AnAge lists a typical litter of 4[17][18]. The longest recorded lifespan is 19 years, and that was in captivity[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[12] 25 cm (10 in)
Typical adult weight[13] 70 g (2.5 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 19 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[18] 4
Gestation or incubation[17] 40 days
Female maturity[19] 210 days (about 0.6 years)
Food habits[14] Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Active[20] nocturnal
Migration[21] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[15]

  • 40% seeds
  • 30% other plant material
  • 30% fruit

When to look for it

This squirrel is nocturnal, which means it is active at night[22]. NatureServe says it stays active through the year, except in extreme winter cold, when it may enter torpor (a deep, sleep-like rest)[23]. It is a non-migrant, though populations can differ[21]. Online observation records fall in every month[24]. The most records are in October, November and December, but this reflects when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].

January: 655 recordsJanFebruary: 564 recordsFebMarch: 607 recordsMarApril: 551 recordsAprMay: 581 recordsMayJune: 565 recordsJunJuly: 630 recordsJulAugust: 483 recordsAugSeptember: 534 recordsSepOctober: 722 recordsOctNovember: 758 recordsNovDecember: 656 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January655
February564
March607
April551
May581
June565
July630
August483
September534
October722
November758
December656

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Southern Flying Squirrel as present in 55 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 31 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, Ohio[26]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Southern Flying Squirrel endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally, and it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].
Where does the Southern Flying Squirrel live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 36 US states and territories, from Texas and Kansas to Maine and Florida[3]. Its habitat includes hardwood and mixed forest[10].
What does the Southern Flying Squirrel eat?
It eats seeds, fruits, other plant material and insects[14][15]. NatureServe notes that insects are eaten in spring[16].
How big is a Southern Flying Squirrel?
NatureServe records a typical length of 25 cm (10 in)[12]. It records a typical weight of 70 g[13].
How long does a Southern Flying Squirrel live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 19 years in captivity[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Southern Flying Squirrel is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Southern Flying Squirrel: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Southern Flying Squirrel as native in 36 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 19 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is a mammal in the family Sciuridae, order Rodentia. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Southern Flying Squirrel (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Southern Flying Squirrel: Forest - hardwood, Forest - mixed, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Southern Flying Squirrel. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 25 cm (10 in). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 70 g (2.5 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 40% seeds, 30% other plant material, 30% fruit. EltonTraits 1.0
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Southern Flying Squirrel. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 40 days. AnAge
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 210 days (about 0.6 years). AnAge
  20. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: nocturnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  21. NatureServe migration category for Southern Flying Squirrel: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe notes on phenology for Southern Flying Squirrel. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Southern Flying Squirrel in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Southern Flying Squirrel as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  26. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Southern Flying Squirrel: Florida, Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, Ohio. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.