Representatives from several western North Carolina newspapers braved near-freezing temperatures Jan. 24 to view Carolina northern flying squirrel habitats in the Great Balsam Mountains. The North Carolina Teaming with Wildlife Coalition hosted the event as part of a continual initiative to educate the public about priority species identified in the North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan.

Chris Kelly, a wildlife diversity biologist, led reporters across streams and down steep banks to see the endangered squirrel up-close. Kelly captured three squirrels that were staying in one of many nest boxes the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has posted in the area in order to gather more information on this rare species. Tour guests had the opportunity to watch Kelly measure, weigh, and tag the squirrels. Afterwards, two of the squirrels awed the reporters by demonstrating their gliding abilities.

Three representatives of the North Carolina Teaming with Wildlife Coalition, Chris North, special projects director of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Ben Prater, representing the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project, and Jeff Schwierjohann from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission were on hand to discuss the state's Wildlife Action Plan. The northern flying squirrel is one of many species in the area that the plan identifies.

The Carolina northern flying squirrel, a relatively small rodent, lives in high-elevation fir forests in North Carolina. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed the animal on the federal Endangered Species List in 1985 due to natural habitat fragmentation and other threats, such as invasive species that kill adult fir trees.

Carolina northern flying squirrel press
Carolina northern flying squirrel fact sheet (.pdf 319 KB)