The flying squirrel is lucky: the delicate, chinchilla-like fur with which it is covered is too fragile to give a valuable skin and make its owner an object of fishing. Therefore, flying squirrels are still widespread both in Europe and in Asia.
The distribution area of the flying squirrel is the forest zone. In Siberia, the southern border of the range is located much lower than in the European part of the country, and coincides with the border of the forest-steppe zone. In the north, the distribution of flying squirrels is limited to the taiga zone. They can be found everywhere, but flying squirrels prefer to settle in forests dominated by deciduous trees - alder and birch. Birch and alder catkins play an important role in the diet, flying squirrels even prepare them for the winter.
According to the scientific classification, the subfamily of flying squirrels is included in the family of squirrels, and then, in turn, in the order of rodents. The subfamily of flying squirrels includes fifteen genera. The largest representatives are taguanas living in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Their body length is up to sixty centimeters. They were less fortunate than the Russian flying squirrels. True, their skin also does not have an industrialvalues, but they have a different, gastronomic value. Taguan meat is eaten by locals.
Our flying squirrels are significantly inferior to them in size. The length of the body without a tail is no more than twenty-two centimeters. The flying squirrel differs from its more well-known "ordinary" counterpart by the presence of leather membranes on the sides of the body: between the right front and right hind legs, and on the opposite side.
When danger appears, the squirrel jumps, which, due to the presence of membranes, have an incredible length - up to sixty meters. This is more likely not even a jump, but a gliding flight.
Thanks to this feature, the flying squirrel rarely descends to the ground, and there is no need for it: its house is in a tree, moving from tree to tree in the forest with such a jump distance is easy. He also finds food on the tree. What does a flying squirrel eat?
She prefers the buds of trees - both deciduous and coniferous, but still prefers alder and birch. In addition, the flying squirrel's menu consists of birch, maple and aspen bark, as well as willow trees and pine nuts.
The flying squirrel is hardly noticeable in the forest: like a real commando, it has camouflage clothes. Such variegation is ideal for the forest thicket. The flying squirrel sheds just like a regular squirrel, twice a year.
The flying squirrel lives in hollows of trees, and near human habitation it can even settle in birdhouses. Contrary to popular belief, when flying, the tailin a squirrel, it plays the role not of a rudder, but of a stabilizer, and when “landing” on a trunk or branch, it also plays the role of a brake. Belkin's House can be found in the remains of her meal scattered nearby.
Flying squirrels bear cubs for five weeks, two or four blind squirrels are born in one litter, which begin to see clearly only after two weeks. True, after that they grow up very quickly. A month later, young flying squirrels deftly jump from tree to tree, mastering gliding flight. And fifty days after birth, they feel old enough and independent enough to leave their father's (well, or mother's) house forever. True, they usually settle not far: close relatives often have housing on the same tree, although everyone has their own “apartment” with a separate entrance.
Here she is - a flying squirrel. A photo of this charming animal in flight is an example of grace. True, photographing them is difficult because flying squirrels are mainly nocturnal.
