Southern Flying Squirrels

Blake Mathys, Ph.D.


I was able to take a couple of Ohio Dominican's mammalogy students down to see Dr. Don Althoff's research with Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys volans) near Nelsonville, Ohio, on December 10th, 2021. We really appreciated the opportunity to experience these wonderful mammals up close.

Walking into the woods
Dr. Don Althoff checking a flying squirrel box
Russell using a thermal camera to check the temperature of a flying squirrel box. Dr. Althoff is trying to find out whether it's possible to determine whether a box is occupied by measuring its external temperature.
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) found during the hike
When a box is found to be occupied, it's removed from the tree
The tube is used to capture and isolate the flying squirrels. They are then tagged and measured.
Dr. Mael Glon weighing a flying squirrel
A close-up view of a flying squirrel
Russell holding his first flying squirrel
A flying squirrel trying to bite Eric
Blake Mathys holding a flying squirrel (picture taken by Russell Montemarano)
A flying squirrel moves up a tree just after its release


BlakeMathys.com