Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Glaucomys
Species: volans

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Glaucomys
Species: sabrinus

Description

Grey and brown with all white ventral hairs; avg. 2.3 oz.

Grey and brown, ventral hairs white with grey base; avg. 4.65 oz.

Habitat

Hardwood forests in eastern U.S.

Coniferous forests in Canada and northern U.S.

Food

Nuts, berries, fungi, birds, insects, small vertebrates

Nuts, berries, lichens and fungi

Critical Resources

Food, cavity nests

Food, cavity nests

Predators

House cats, some owls

Primarily owls

Territory

Females – territorial, males – home range

Females – territorial,   males – home range

Mating System

Overlap promiscuity

Overlap promiscuity

Social Group/Spacing

Female and offspring share a nest, males solitary; will aggregate in winter

Female and offspring share a nest

Parental Roles

Female is only caregiver

Female is only caregiver

Offspring

Gestation: 40 days
Litter size: 1-6
Young stay in nest:120 days
2 litters per year

Gestation: 40 days
Litter size: 2-4
Young stay in nest: 60-120 days
1 litter per year