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Hi Christopher,
According to S. E. Woods, Jr., "The Squirrels of Canada", in reference to the Southern Flying Squirrel, " Until the 1950's it was generally believed the little flying squirrel was restricted to southern Ontario. We now know that the northern extremity of his Canadian range roughly corresponds with a line drawn on the map from Sudbury through Montreal to Halifax". I suggest you rethink your certainty as stated, "It's almost certainly a northern flying squirrel".
This is my last word on this subject.
Hans
----- Original Message -----
From: Christopher Majka
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Southern Flying Squirrel
Hi Hans,
It's almost certainly a northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus). As far as I am aware the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is found in Nova Scotia only in Kejimkujik National Park and the valley of the Gaspereau River (http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/conserva/flying-squirrels.asp). I'm not aware that there has ever been a record from the vicinity of Halifax. Also, both species are indigenous to Nova Scotia so their presence here can't be said to be "north of its range" since both species naturally occur in the province.
Although southern flying squirrels are smaller (52-70 gm) than northern flying squirrels (75-139 gm) these are weights of adults and juveniles may, of course, be smaller. You'd have a very hard time separating the two in the field. There are nuanced differences in the skull and G. sabrinus has a longer cheek tooth row. The diagnostic difference is in the shape and size of the bacula (penis bone) of the males - not something that is apparent in the field. :->
A blue jay can weigh 2.4-3.5 oz (68-99 gm), however, you don't know how much the blue jay you have observed weighs, only that the flying squirrel weighs less, a weight range that would include adults of both species (and of course, juveniles weigh even less).
Cheers!
Chris
On 3-Nov-10, at 11:02 AM, Bob McDonald wrote:
Interesting story, Hans. And how did you rule out the more common, more widely distributed Northern Flying Squirrel? (We have had these creatures, nibbling at the sunflower seed feeders overnight at our current location in Clayton Park West.)
Bob McDonald
Halifax
bobathome@eastlink.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: Hans Toom
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 8:16 AM
Subject: [NatureNS] Southern Flying Squirrel
The Southern Flying Squirrel is well north of its range in Nova Scotia although they have turned up in Halifax and other locations in Nova Scotia. Whether this is range expansion or abandonment of caged squirrels is unknown to me. Well, we have a Southern Flying Squirrel visiting our sunflower feeder in the dark of night here in Portugusese Cove. We have deduced this from its diminutive size and by its weight. But how can you weigh the squirrel barks the skeptic?
Our sunflower feeder is the counter balanced type designed specifically to keep out pest species such as red squirrels and blue jays. We balance the feeder to deter the blue jay and squirrel. The front of the feeding tray closes when either of these species land on the feeding bar. So far, so good, but the blue jay is tenacious and they developed the nasty habit of flying up to the tray and snapping up a sunflower seed as the trap door closed on their bill. This is not a problem, seed consumption wise, but the constant clanging of the feeder door opening and closing was driving me crazy so I turned the feeder towards the house so that the feeding platform is about 12 inches from the wall. This maneuver defeated the blue jay and the silence made Hans happy!
Now, the Southern Flying Squirrel lands on the feeder and the door does not close! So we deduce that the squirrel must weigh less than the blue jay. I looked up the weights of these species; the squirrel weighs 1.8 to 2.5 ounces and the blue jay weighs 2.4- 3.5 ounces. How's that for application of the scientific method??
I have three large roosting boxes and several nest boxes scattered about the woods around our house. I gave up maintaining them since the local red squirrels immediately occupy them and fill them with grass to the lip of the entrance cavity. Next year I'll put up two blue bird boxes on steel poles, and try again.
Hans Toom
Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
http://www.hanstoom.com/
Christopher Majka <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
* Research Associate: Nova Scotia Museum | http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm
* Review Editor: The Coleopterists Bulletin | http://www.coleopsoc.org/
* Subject Editor: ZooKeys | http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/index
* Associate Editor: Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society | http://www.acadianes.org/journal.html
* Editor: Atlantic Canada Coleoptera | http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html
"Whenever I hear of the capture of rare beetles, I feel like an old war-horse at the sound of a trumpet." - Charles Darwin
--Boundary_(ID_n97rr0SKa2Fhyry4WhP8ag)
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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hi Christopher,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>According to S. E. Woods, Jr., "The Squirrels of
Canada", in reference to the Southern Flying Squirrel, " <EM>Until the 1950's it
was generally believed the little flying squirrel was restricted to southern
Ontario. We now know that the northern extremity of his Canadian range
roughly corresponds with a line drawn on the map from Sudbury through Montreal
to Halifax".</EM> <EM> </EM> I suggest you rethink your certainty as
stated,<EM> "It's almost certainly a northern flying squirrel".
</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>This is my last word on this subject.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>H