Are There Flying Squirrels in Delaware?
Yes, flying squirrels live in Delaware, though you'll rarely see them because they're nocturnal. The Eastern Flying Squirrel inhabits forests across the state, from the Delmarva Peninsula to inland hardwood stands. These small, gliding rodents are most active at night when they hunt for food and travel between trees.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel · Evan M. Raskin CC BY
Southern Flying Squirrel · Hila Taylor CC BY
Southern Flying Squirrel · Nik Hughes CC BY
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- GBIF records
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Yes, flying squirrels live in Delaware, though you'll rarely see them because they're nocturnal. The Eastern Flying Squirrel inhabits forests across the state, from the Delmarva Peninsula to inland hardwood stands. These small, gliding rodents are most active at night when they hunt for food and travel between trees.
Where Flying Squirrels Are Found in Delaware
Flying squirrels are distributed throughout Delaware's forested regions, though they're most common in the northern and central parts of the state. You'll find them in oak and hickory forests along the Nanticoke River valley and throughout the woodlands of New Castle County. The forests surrounding Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge provide ideal habitat, as do the mixed deciduous stands across Kent and Sussex counties. The Delmarva Peninsula's coastal plain forests support healthy populations. Flying squirrels prefer mature forests with dense canopy cover, where they can glide from tree to tree without descending to the ground. They are absent from open agricultural areas and heavily developed urban zones. In Delaware's southern regions near the Delaware Bay, scattered hardwood patches still harbor these creatures. Visit ourDelaware wildlife guidefor information on other nocturnal species in the state.
Season and Activity in Delaware
Flying squirrels in Delaware are active year-round, though their behavior shifts with the seasons. Fall is when they become notably more active as they gather and cache nuts and seeds for winter. During warmer months from April through September, they're particularly busy foraging and raising young in their tree cavities. Winter activity decreases but doesn't stop entirely; on mild nights you may catch them leaving their nests to visit cached food stores. Mating occurs in early spring and again in late summer, producing two litters per year. Delaware's relatively mild winters mean flying squirrels don't face the harsh cold that impacts northern populations. The dampness of coastal Delaware doesn't seem to reduce their numbers significantly. Most sightings occur between dusk and midnight, when these creatures are most active. Spring and early fall offer slightly better odds of encountering them, as they're more mobile and visible during these seasons. For more on flying squirrel in Delaware, see ourDelaware flying squirrel guide.
How to Identify a Flying Squirrel
Flying squirrels are small, weighing just two to three ounces, making them one of Delaware's tiniest tree-dwelling mammals. Their most distinctive feature is the loose fold of skin called a patagium, which stretches between their front and hind legs and enables gliding. This membrane is barely visible when they're perched, making them look like regular squirrels at first glance. Their eyes are notably large and dark, adapted for night vision. Fur color ranges from gray to reddish-brown on the back, with a white belly and underside of the gliding membrane. Unlike other squirrels, flying squirrels have a flattened tail that acts as a rudder during gliding. They're smaller than gray squirrels and have finer features overall. Their calls are high-pitched chirps and clicks, less audible than those of daytime squirrels. Males and females look similar, though females are slightly larger. Look for them in moonlight along tree trunks or high in the canopy. You can also browseDelaware wildlife.
Where Sightings Concentrate in Delaware
Flying squirrels concentrate in mature hardwood forests where large trees provide both nesting cavities and canopy connectivity. Northern Delaware, particularly in the Piedmont regions around Brandywine Creek, supports strong populations. The state parks and protected forests within a ten-mile radius of Wilmington still harbor these creatures despite nearby development. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge remains a hotspot for flying squirrel sightings, especially in its oak and gum stands. Inland forests along the Nanticoke River from Seaford northward provide continuous habitat corridors. The Blackbird Forest State Wildlife Area supports a healthy population. Delaware Bay's interior hardwood forests, particularly those in western Sussex County, are reliable locations. Beaver Dam Pool Wildlife Area has good flying squirrel habitat. The most productive times and places combine old-growth forest patches with nearby water sources like swamps or creek systems. These areas provide both shelter and abundant food resources. Most sightings occur within 40 feet of the forest floor, in trees with accessible cavities.
Typical Behavior and Diet
Flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal, spending daylight hours in tree cavities or leafy dreys high in the canopy. They rely on gliding to move between trees, launching from high perches and using their flattened tail as a rudder for steering. A single glide can cover 150 feet or more, allowing them to cover ground efficiently and escape predators. Their diet consists primarily of nuts, seeds, and fungi, with acorns from white and red oaks being favorites. In fall, they actively gather and cache food, often hiding seeds in crevices and buried locations they'll relocate later. They also eat berries, insects, and occasionally bird eggs. Flying squirrels are social and often share nests with family members during winter, huddling together for warmth. They maintain territories but tolerate den mates of the same sex during cold months. Their high metabolism requires them to eat frequently, particularly in winter when cached food becomes essential. They rarely descend to the ground, conducting nearly their entire lives in the canopy.
Coexistence and Legal Protections
Flying squirrels are protected wildlife in Delaware and cannot be trapped, hunted, or kept as pets without special permits. These shy, harmless creatures avoid human contact and rarely cause problems around homes or properties. If flying squirrels enter attics or walls, professional wildlife removal is the appropriate solution rather than DIY control. They do not carry rabies more frequently than other wildlife and pose minimal disease risk to humans. Coexisting with flying squirrels is simple: maintain dead trees and snags in wooded areas when safe to do so, as they provide essential nesting cavities. Avoid clearing dense understory vegetation in your forest, as this improves their habitat. Flying squirrels actually benefit forest ecosystems by dispersing fungi and seeds as they forage. Delaware's wildlife management encourages landowners to protect old-growth forest stands because they support flying squirrel populations. If you spot one, simply observe quietly and count yourself lucky, as sightings are relatively rare. Reporting sightings to Delaware's Division of Fish and Wildlife helps biologists track populations and habitat use. Protecting Delaware'sflying squirrel populationshelps maintain forest health.
Species People Confuse with Flying Squirrels
The Eastern Gray Squirrel is the most common misidentification, as both are tree-dwelling rodents, but gray squirrels are significantly larger and cannot glide. Eastern Chipmunks are much smaller and have distinctive stripes and shorter tails. They're also primarily diurnal, making them easier to spot. Red Squirrels are smaller than gray squirrels but still much larger than flying squirrels and lack the gliding membrane. Southern Flying Squirrels can be confused with Eastern Flying Squirrels, but Southern Flying Squirrels aren't found as far north as Delaware. Some people mistake nocturnal visits to their attics for rats or mice, when flying squirrels might be responsible, but flying squirrels make softer sounds. The Virginia Opossum is often blamed for attic disturbances, but opossums are much larger and have bare tails. Raccoons are much bigger and more destructive. American Marten, found only in northern regions, resembles a flying squirrel but is much larger and has a different habitat range. Understanding these differences helps with accuratewildlife identificationthroughout Delaware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can flying squirrels actually fly? No, they glide from high trees to lower ones, using their patagium to slow their descent and extend horizontal distance. Their flattened tail provides steering control during glides up to 150 feet. Q: Where do flying squirrels live in Delaware's forests? They nest in tree cavities created by woodpeckers or natural decay, high in oaks, hickories, and other hardwoods. They also build leafy nests called dreys when cavities are unavailable. Q: What's the best way to see a flying squirrel in Delaware? Visit forests at night using a red flashlight to avoid startling them, or place a camera trap on tree trunks in known habitat. Early morning searches sometimes reveal them returning to nests. Q: Are flying squirrels a problem for homeowners in Delaware? Rarely, but if they enter homes, contact wildlife professionals for humane exclusion. Flying squirrels don't cause the damage that gray squirrels do and rarely colonize in large numbers. Explore ourDelaware wildlife resourcesto learn more about local species.
Plan your flying squirrel sighting in Delaware
20 verified flying squirrel records have been logged in Delaware, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Delaware
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