Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is in the Squirrels family (Sciuridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,318 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Southern Flying Squirrel: observations by month (U.S.)
About Southern Flying Squirrel
The southern flying squirrel or the assapan (Glaucomys volans) is one of three species of the genus Glaucomys, the only flying squirrels found in North America. It is found in deciduous and mixed woods in the eastern half of North America, from southeastern Canada, to Florida. Disjunct distribution for populations of this species have been recorded in the highlands of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Southern Flying Squirrel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 386 | February | Dec–Mar |
| North Carolina | 301 | June | Feb–Jul |
| Ohio | 297 | July | Mar–Jan |
| Florida | 287 | May | Jan–Jun |
| Virginia | 283 | July | Jun–May |
| Pennsylvania | 249 | October | Sep–Aug |
| New York | 193 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Michigan | 188 | June | Feb–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 181 | October | Aug–Jun |
| Alabama | 178 | March | Dec–Jul |
| Georgia | 172 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 170 | November | Feb–Dec |
| Maryland | 170 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Tennessee | 153 | March | Dec–Jul |
| Minnesota | 105 | December | Nov–Feb |
| New Jersey | 102 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Indiana | 95 | July | Mar–Dec |
| Mississippi | 93 | October | Jul–May |
| Wisconsin | 93 | November | Sep–Jul |
| Connecticut | 89 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Louisiana | 86 | December | Aug–Dec |
| South Carolina | 79 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Kentucky | 61 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Arkansas | 51 | April | Mar–Aug |
| Missouri | 47 | June | Sep–Jul |
| West Virginia | 43 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Vermont | 30 | November | Oct–Nov |
| New Hampshire | 29 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 23 | December | Oct–Dec |
| Maine | 21 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Oklahoma | 20 | October | Oct–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 18 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Rhode Island | 16 | December | Aug–Dec |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Squirrels)
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Eastern Chipmunk
California Ground Squirrel
Groundhog
American Red Squirrel
Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Western Gray Squirrel
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Southern Flying Squirrel?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to March.
Where is Southern Flying Squirrel most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, North Carolina, Ohio.