Flying Squirrels on Cape Cod?
Yeah, I didn't believe it either. The other day I bumped into old friend Bruce G., who matter-of-factly told me that he and his better half had seen a flying squirrel right here in Harwich. Riiight I balked. The response was a sincere, "No really, we saw a flying squirrel. Ok... I hadn't heard of such, but it's possible, right?
After coming home, doing some research (and eating a bit of crow if you will), it turns out that flying squirrels have been spotted on Cape Cod.
So what have we got here? According to the experts at (MassWildlife), what Bruce saw was either the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) or the Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus).
Not sure about the species of the one above (think it's a Southern), but the characteristic patagium skin between the front and back legs is pretty tough to miss.
So... We do have flying squirrels on Cape Cod. And we also have hybrid coyotes/wolves. What's next? Manatees in Dennis?
Arghhh! That's it, I'm going for a wildlife photo hunt for pics of Bigfoot playing canasta with a chupacabra in Harwich Port.
See you by those skeptical feeders,
CapeCodAlan
eBirdseed.com photo library
Comments
Hi, My husband and I just removed one of these little flying squirrels (pictured above) from our living room a few minutes ago. We live next to a conservation area so we see lots of critters. This was a first for us, though. No, we didn't hurt the little fella, but our cats and dog sure wanted to!
{Fantastic! CCA}
Posted by: Karen Harkness | October 12, 2008 1:22 PM
Hi,
I'm glad I found this. I spent the night at my parents house in E.Dennis last night. At about 2AM, while sleeping, I felt something small land on my foot. I sat up and glimpsed a small creature's shadow go across the bed. I turned on the light and saw a small rodent looking at me. It moved over to a pillow and I could see the extra skin and chipmunk-like tail. It was a flying squirrel- I've been here my whole life and this is a first. I was under assumption that they weren't here. In any case I woke up my parents and said "I am so sorry to wake you guys up- and you are gonna think I'm on drugs, but I swear...there is a flying squirrel in my room." Dad came down and caught him in a shirt, put him in the car drove him to another location and let him go. That's what he had to do when they had the bat. (my poor mother- in fact until I turned on the light I was dreading it was a big rat- she would've freaked! hahaha)So I guess they really ARE here on Cape Cod! sorry this was so long- but I had to tell someone and my husband isn't home yet from (ironically enough) Maine! ha ha ha. Isn't HE the one who was supposed to have had an experience like this?
{CCA replies: Great story! I wonder if we'll ever see a flying squirrel... Just be careful around those wild critters...}
Posted by: Alesia Murray | November 9, 2008 7:31 AM