| Rocky & Bullwinkle featured a Jet Age ace | | | | the quality of food or availability of food in captivity |
| named Rocky. Many other animated films or shorts | | | | (though that probably plays a roll), but rather to a |
| have featured the same type of animal - a flying | | | | significant drop in the number of predators with |
| squirrel. Flying squirrels are a type of squirrel with | | | | which a flying squirrel must contend. In the wild, flying |
| forty three different types of squirrels in their family. | | | | squirrels are a popular part of a large number of |
| Unlike what their name suggests, flying squirrels do | | | | predators' diets. Everyone from house cats to birds |
| not really fly. A more appropriate name would be a | | | | and even raccoons enjoys a flying squirrel for dinner. |
| gliding squirrel. | | | | In addition, flying squirrels are mammals that are |
| Flying squirrels "fly" through the use of the patagium. | | | | nocturnal. Nocturnal means that they are active in the |
| The patagium is a flap of skin forming a | | | | evening or during the night hours and sleep for the |
| parachute-like extension of the body which catches | | | | majority of the day. These cute little guys will eat |
| air and allows the squirrel to glide. Steering is | | | | pretty much anything they can get their hands on. |
| accomplished by modifying the taughtness of the | | | | Like all squirrels, they enjoy the fruits of a variety of |
| patagium. To adjust the patagium, the squirrel moves | | | | trees like acorns. They are also known to eat insects, |
| a cartilaginous wrist bone. While in flight, the squirrel | | | | seeds, spiders, slugs, snails, tree and shrub buds, |
| uses its tail as a stabilizer. Prior to landing, the tail | | | | flowers, berries, bird eggs and babies, and tree sap. |
| serves the purpose of acting as a brake. The brake | | | | When keeping a flying squirrel as a pet, it is important |
| function is necessary because a squirrel can be | | | | to be aware of their natural tendency towards a |
| moving pretty quickly prior to landing on the new | | | | calcium deficiency. To combat this, calcium and |
| tree. | | | | vitamin D supplements should be added to the |
| These little squirrels are known to live between 10 | | | | squirrels food while the amount of phosphorous |
| and 15 years in captivity. While in the wild, they | | | | should be limited. In addition, providing a calcium block |
| generally have a life span of about 6 years. The | | | | or cuttlebone as well as a mineral block will help to |
| difference in life span isn't due to some increase in | | | | keep the squirrel's life healthy. |