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Home/Species/ Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus

Handley, 1953

Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel

T2T2 (G5T2) Found in 25 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
T2T2Global Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101609
Element CodeAMAFB09022
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSubspecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusGlaucomys
Other Common Names
Carolina northern flying squirrel (EN)
Concept Reference
Hall, E. R. 1981a. The Mammals of North America, second edition. Vols. I & II. John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 1181 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
The population of Glaucomys sabrinus in the Mount Rogers and Whitetop area of Virginia may represent an intergradation zone between subspecies coloratus and fuscus (Handley 1991). One of 25 currently recognized subspecies.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2017-06-27
Change Date2009-01-20
Edition Date2017-06-27
Edition AuthorsCannings, S. (2017); Capuano, N. (2011)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Restricted range at high elevations in the Southern Appalachians; threatened by climate change and competition with the Southern Flying Squirrel at moderate elevations, and by habitat degradation as a result of logging, insect pests, and airborne pollution. Stable or moderately declining population.
Range Extent Comments
Restricted to a small range in the southern Appalachian Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina as well as isolated localities in Virginia. In North Carolina, it occurs in isolated localities in Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties. Most likely occurs in Ashe County as well. In Tennessee, there are six extant occurrences in Blount, Carter, Monroe and Sevier Counties. In Virginia, this subspecies occurs only in Grayson, Smyth, and Washington Counties (Linzey 1998). Subspecies identity is uncertain in the Mount Rogers and Whitetop area, Virginia; this may be an area of intergradation between subspecies coloratus and fuscus (Handley 1991).
Occurrences Comments
Eighty-six occurrences now documented, although some of these may be merged.
Threat Impact Comments
Climate change is a serious potential threat, since this species is adapted to the cool, wet conditions of the boreal zone, and their mountaintop refuges are shrinking as the climate warms; scores "Highly Vulnerable" on Climate Change Vulnerability Index.

Northern Flying Squirrels are also threatened in the southern Appalachians by loss of habitat resulting from balsam wooly adelgid (Adelges picea) infestations, logging, road building and recreation (Urban 1988, Weigl et al. 1992, Mahan et al. 1999). Habitat changes have resulted in G. sabrinus being displaced by the more aggressive G. volans in areas where the species' ranges overlap (Weigl et al. 1992). Infection by the intestinal parasite, Strongyloides robustus, carried by the Southern Flying Squirrel, is also a possible threat, but negative effects have not been proven (Kirchbaum et al. 2010).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Prefers coniferous and mixed forest with 'boreal' characteristics (Weigl et al. 1992), but will utilize deciduous woods and riparian woods; optimal conditions: cool, moist, mature forest (especially older Red Spruce) with abundant standing and down snags. Occupies tree cavities, leaf nests, underground burrows; See Payne et al. (1989) and Weigl et al. (1992) for specific habitat characteristics in the southern Appalachians. Prefers cavities in mature trees as den sites. Small outside twig nests sometimes used for den sites. Will use nest boxes.

Ecology

Highly social, especially in winter when nests may be shared. Summer home range was estimated at 2-3 ha in North Carolina (Austin et al., no date). Apparently lives in family groups of adults and juveniles.

Reproduction

Gestation lasts 37-42 days. Apparently produces 1 litter/year, in spring or summer. Young are weaned at about 2 months. Sexually mature within one year.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferForest - Mixed
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
TennesseeS1Yes
North CarolinaS2Yes
VirginiaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownExtreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
1.3 - Tourism & recreation areasUnknownExtreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource usePervasive - restrictedSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingPervasive - restrictedSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseasesRestricted - smallUnknownHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionPervasive (71-100%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.5 - Air-borne pollutantsPervasive (71-100%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (25)
North Carolina (19)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
Barkers Creek (addition)Nantahala National Forest975
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Boteler PeakNantahala National Forest4,205
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Little Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest640
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Tennessee (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Rogers RidgeCherokee National Forest4,738
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Virginia (2)
AreaForestAcres
Lewis Fork AdditionJefferson National Forest749
Little Wilson Creek Addition BJefferson National Forest1,725
References (14)
  1. Arbogast, B.S., K.I. Schumacher, N.J. Kerhoulas, A.L. Bidlack, J.A. Cook, and G.J. Kenagy. 2017. Genetic data reveal a cryptic species of New World flying squirrel: <i>Glaucomys oregonensis</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 98(4):1027–1041.
  2. Arbogast, B.S., R.A. Browne, P.D. Weigl, and G.J. Kenagy. 2005. Conservation genetics of endangered flying squirrels (<i>Glaucomys</i>) from the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern North America. Animal Conservation 8:123-133.
  3. Austin, K., et al. No date. Northern flying squirrel draft recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5. 52 pp.
  4. Hall, E. R. 1981a. The Mammals of North America, second edition. Vols. I &amp; II. John Wiley &amp; Sons, New York, New York. 1181 pp.
  5. Handley, C. O., Jr. 1991. Mammals. Pages 539-616 in K. Terwilliger, coordinator. Virginia's endangered species: proceedings of a symposium. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia.
  6. Howell, A. H. 1918. Revision of the American flying squirrels. North American Fauna 44:1-64.
  7. Kirchbaum, K, C.G. Mahan, M.A. Steele, G. Turner, and P.J. Hudson. 2010. The potential role of <i>Strongyloides robustus</i> on parasite-mediated competition between two species of flying squirrels (<i>Glaucomys</i>). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 46:229-235.
  8. Linzey, D. W. 1998. The mammals of Virginia. McDonald and Woodward, Blacksburg, VA. 459 pp.
  9. Mahan, C.G., M.A. Steele, M.J. Patrick, and G.L. Kirkland, Jr. 1999. The status of the northern flying squirrel (<i>Glaucomys sabrinus</i>) in Pennsylvania. Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 73: 15- 21.
  10. Matthews, J.R. and C.J. Moseley (eds.). 1990. The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Endangered Species of North America. Volume 1. Plants, Mammals. xxiii + pp 1-560 + 33 pp. appendix + 6 pp. glossary + 16 pp. index. Volume 2. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, Mussels, Crustaceans, Snails, Insects, and Arachnids. xiii + pp. 561-1180. Beacham Publications, Inc., Washington, D.C.
  11. Payne, J. L., D. R. Young, and J. F. Pagels. 1989. Plant community characteristics associated with the endangered northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus, in the southern Appalachians. American Midland Naturalist 121:285-292.
  12. Urban, V.K. 1988. Home range, habitat utilization, and activity of the endangered northern flying squirrel. MS Dissertation, Division of Forestry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia. 59 pages.
  13. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.
  14. Weigl, P.D., T.W. Knowles, and A.C. Boynton. 1992. The distribution and ecology of the Northern Flying Squirrel, <i>Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus</i>, in the southern Appalachians. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Morganton, NC. 120 pages.