A flying squirrel has large dark eyes, a slightly upturned nose and large ears, all of which make it look a little like a mouse. Its soft, silky fur is mostly gray on top and white on the bottom. The males and females look alike. After swinging its head back and forth a few times to judge the distance, it leaps into the air. Using its tail like a rudder, it twists and turns to miss branches.
Some scientists believe it uses high-pitched sounds like a bat to avoid colliding with trees.
Down, down, down it glides, landing with a soft whump. Flying squirrels live in holes in trees, usually leftover woodpecker holes. They can squeeze into a hole about the size of a quarter, so they could even live in your wren house or attic. Between four and six babies are born in the spring, and sometimes a second litter is born in late summer. When they're first born, the babies are naked and blind, and weigh about as much as six paper clips.