The Northern Flying Squirrels are a small, dark brown squirrel with a white belly. They  molt twice each year, and therefore have a summer and winter coat.  They are a nocturnal mammal.  They make nests out of shredded bark in an abandoned woodpecker or other holes in trees.
    Flying squirrels appear to fly, but they don't.  They glide and can travel up to 80 yards  or more from trees to the ground.  They stretch out their legs and use the fold of skin between their foreleg and hind leg to act a sail or parachute.  They can change their angle of descent and turn while gliding.  They drop their tail and lift their forelimbs which serves as a brake just before landing.
    A female flying squirrel usually has one litter per year consisting of 2-5 young squirrels.
    Northern flying squirrels are active all year during the night.  Their  food consists of nuts and seeds, but they will also eat insects.

Reason for the species decline:

     The main threat to this animal is the timbering and development of the high elevation red spruce.

Protection:

    Most of the known locations of the Northern Flying Squirrel are within the Monongahela National Forest and are protected.  All habitat within .5 miles of the Northern Flying Squirrel's habitat is protected.