Are There Flying Squirrels in Tennessee?
There are two species of flying squirrels in Tennessee – The Northern Flying Squirrel and the Southern Flying Squirrel. Both are nocturnal so it can be difficult to see one. The Northern Flying Squirrel lives above 4500 feet and occurs only in the mountains of eastern Tennessee. The Southern Flying Squirrel lives across the state. If you have a flying squirrel problem, it will be this species.
How rare is it to see a flying squirrel?
Flying squirrels are common rodents in many parts of the country, but because they are nocturnal, few people ever see them.
What time of year are flying squirrels most active?
Flying squirrels are active year-round, are highly sociable, and will feed and den together. Flying squirrels set up nests in attics to escape predators and cold weather, as well as to raise their young.
How can you tell if you have flying squirrels?
Evidence of flying squirrels can be found through droppings, tracks, scents or actual sightings. Inspect the roofline of your home for chew marks and small entry points. In addition to scratching sounds in the middle of the night, you may also hear low, soft chirping or clucking sounds.
This cabin in the mountains surrounding Chattanooga had a flying squirrel problem. The obvious sign was flying squirrel urine dripping from the attic and down the walls.
These flying squirrels found a safe place to nest in this cabin attic. We installed live traps and one-way doors to get rid of the flying squirrels. Once we trapped all the flying squirrels and removed them, we implemented exclusions to prevent future problems. We sealed all holes and cracks big enough for flying squirrels to enter your home and secured vent openings with wire mesh.
What attracts flying squirrels?
Flying squirrels like to feed on things like seeds or nuts, berries, lichens, fresh leaves, and flowers, along with fungi. Flying squirrels are highly attracted to properties that have backyard bird or other wildlife feeders on them.
A few simple habitat modifications can keep your home free of nuisance squirrels. You can add a squirrel barrier to your bird feeder to keep them out, but you will still need to keep the ground below the feeder clean. Trimming tree branches near the roof can remove an easy access point.
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