How Do You Know if a Northern Flying Squirrel is Male or Female

To know whether a northern flying squirrel is male or female, the checking of the genitals is the easiest and surest process to undergo to ascertain the sexuality of the creature.

This doesn’t mean that it is the only process when trying to know the sex of the northern flying squirrel. In this article, we will discuss the ways to know and be sure of their sex and how they behave.

Mating chases

If you’re looking to see a northern flying squirrel mating chase, there are a few simple ways to tell whether it’s male or female. Females often chase males, and males will sometimes chase back. This chase is a test of endurance and sustainability.

Males will chase after a female while she is in estrus. If they can keep up with her, they are likely to become sustainable partners.

The mating behavior of flying squirrels is similar to that of tree-squirrels, with males gliding from one tree to another, following their female. Researchers have observed that mating chases typically involve two or three males.

Males are generally slightly larger than females, and they tend to favor smaller males. However, there are no definitive differences between the sexes when it comes to body mass, which might influence mating success.

Estrous calls

A squirrel’s estrous call can tell you whether it is a male or a female. Females will emit a high-pitched call to signal that they are ready for breeding. They will also make a loud scrotal noise. This call is accompanied by a staccato bark and is a warning to potential mates.

The male can also locate the female by locating her by her estrous call.

While the exact mechanism of how these sounds are produced is unknown, researchers have hypothesized that the presence of an ejaculatory gland would result in the production of an infinite number of harmonics.

In theory, this would allow animals to extort larger bandwidths by communicating with higher frequencies. However, the role of this feature in most squirrel species remains unclear. So, it is best to listen for this call.

Nesting rituals

Are you interested in learning more about the nesting rituals of the Northern flying squirrel? The male and female of this species are nearly identical. Unlike many other species, they have different nesting rituals and are equally important to the successful breeding process. The male and female of this species typically mate with multiple females.

The male is responsible for putting the waxy plug inside the female nest, and the female removes it. The strongest male is rewarded with the female’s attention and will often mate with him. These two species of flying squirrels do not actively participate in raising the young, but if you see a female, you will be able to identify it easily.

The female of this species will usually create up to four nests within reasonable distance of the main nest. If she feels unsafe in the primary nest, she may move to another location.

While the northern flying squirrel keeps its nests clean, their southern counterparts may soil the nest and bring food into the denning area. They use nest boxes of regular squirrels, gourds, or a combination of both.

Predators

Northern flying squirrels are nocturnal and can be hard to identify. They are small with bulging eyes and a flattened tail. They are whitish underneath. Their main predator is the domestic cat, but this species is rarely dangerous to humans.

You should try to avoid provoking the flying squirrels. They are also good for the environment, spreading seeds, and helping to maintain the health of forests.

The easiest way to tell whether a female or male northern flying squirrel is pregnant is to observe its behavior. It should be facing you and positioned belly-up. On the back side, you will notice two small holes near its tail. The holes represent the genitalia and anus. If there is hardly any separation between these holes, the squirrel is a female.

In contrast, a male has a noticeable space between its two holes. The area where the scrotum sac is located will be visible.

Age of sexual maturity

The Age of Sexual Maturity of Northern Flying Squirrel is influenced by different environmental factors. The delayed leaf growth and low temperatures in the winter months lead to an increase in body mass in the summer.

Rainy conditions in the summer negatively correlated with female body mass in August. Previous studies showed that the weather is important for mating success and reproduction of red and Siberian flying squirrels. This research shows that body mass plays a key role in the timing and success of reproduction.

Adult and juvenile northern flying squirrels differ in the distribution and abundance of reproductively active females and in the reproductive maturity of their yearlings. Likewise, they differ in the survivorship of the reproductively active females within each age class.

Therefore, accurate assessment of age and reproductive activity is essential to understand the ecology of flying squirrels. The Annapolis field office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office coordinates the Appalachian Northern Flying Squirrel Recovery Plan.

Identifying a northern flying squirrel and the southern flying squirrel.

When is the mating season for a northern flying squirrel? The mating season begins in late March and runs through early June. The females are monogamous during the mating season, and females give birth to 3 to 6 offspring after 40 days.

The southern flying squirrel mates twice a year, and the northern flying squirrel mate only once a year, usually in early spring.

The two species are similar in coloration. Females are lighter in color and are larger than males, while males weigh approximately the same. The Northern Flying Squirrel is gray-brown in color. Its belly fur is gray, while that of its southern counterpart is all white.

Another way to tell the difference is size. The northern flying squirrel is larger than the southern flying squirrel, ranging in size from 10 to 12 inches.