Are There Flying Squirrels in Georgia?
Yes, flying squirrels are common throughout Georgia, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coastal plains. The Eastern Flying Squirrel inhabits forested regions across the entire state. These small nocturnal gliders prefer mature hardwood forests and mixed pine stands, making them widespread but rarely seen because of their strictly nocturnal habits and preference for high canopy perches.
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
- 300
- GBIF records
Yes, flying squirrels are in Georgia. Next you'll want:
Yes, flying squirrels are common throughout Georgia, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coastal plains. The Eastern Flying Squirrel inhabits forested regions across the entire state. These small nocturnal gliders prefer mature hardwood forests and mixed pine stands, making them widespread but rarely seen because of their strictly nocturnal habits and preference for high canopy perches.
Where Flying Squirrels Are Found in Georgia
Flying squirrels are distributed throughout Georgia in all suitable forest habitats from the mountains to the coast. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Chattahoochee National Forest support strong populations in the northern highlands. The Piedmont region's oak and hickory forests provide excellent habitat across central Georgia. The Coastal Plain contains flying squirrels in its mixed pine and hardwood stands, particularly inland from the immediate coast. The Okefenokee Swamp margins and surrounding cypress-hardwood forests in southeastern Georgia harbor populations. The Appalachian foothills contain some of Georgia's densest flying squirrel populations. Forests along the Chattahoochee River valley support continuous populations. Georgia state forests throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain contain established colonies. The Cumberland Island area has flying squirrels despite being relatively southerly. They're absent only from completely open habitats like agricultural fields and urban centers. Visit ourGeorgia wildlife guidefor information about other forest-dwelling species. Flying squirrels require large trees with cavities, so they're most common in mature, established forests.
Season and Activity in Georgia
Flying squirrels in Georgia are active year-round with seasonal variations in behavior and visibility. Fall is their most active season as they gather and cache nuts in preparation for winter. Late September through November sees peak food-caching activity when acorn crops reach maturity. Winter activity decreases as cold temperatures discourage foraging, though they remain active on milder nights using their cached food stores. Spring mating begins in February and March, with females giving birth to their first litters in April and May. Summer brings warm temperatures and abundant insects, though activity often shifts to the coolest hours before dawn. A second breeding cycle occurs in mid-summer, with pups maturing by fall. Georgia's relatively mild winters compared to northern states mean flying squirrels face less seasonal stress and food scarcity. Fall acorn crops from white oaks, water oaks, and chestnut oaks provide the bulk of their winter nutrition. Most activity occurs between two hours after sunset through three hours before sunrise. Peak visibility times are fall and early winter when food-caching urgency increases. For more on flying squirrel in Georgia, see ourGeorgia flying squirrel guide.
How to Identify a Flying Squirrel
Flying squirrels are diminutive creatures, weighing just two to three ounces and measuring six to eight inches head and body. Their signature feature is the patagium, a loose fold of skin stretching between front and hind legs, which appears as a membrane during gliding flight. At rest on tree trunks, this membrane is barely visible, and they look deceptively similar to small regular squirrels. Large, dark eyes are perfectly adapted for night vision and are a reliable identification feature. Their fur is soft and silky, ranging from gray to reddish-brown on the back with pure white underparts. The gliding membrane's underside is also white, creating a striking appearance during flight. Their tail is flattened and bordered with hairs, serving as both balance and steering during glides. The ears are small and rounded, less prominent than gray squirrels' ears. They produce high-pitched chirps, squeaks, and clicking sounds, far quieter than daytime squirrels. Males and females appear identical externally, though females average slightly larger body size than males. You can also browseGeorgia wildlife.
Where Sightings Concentrate in Georgia
Flying squirrel sightings concentrate in mature hardwood and mixed forest regions throughout Georgia. The Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding Appalachian foothills are reliable locations for observations. Chattahoochee National Forest contains excellent populations, particularly in the northern portion near the North Carolina border. The Piedmont region's oak woodlands from Athens south to Augusta support consistent populations. Fort Benning and other military installations with large tracts of protected forest contain healthy flying squirrel colonies. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge margins in southeastern Georgia offer good sighting opportunities. The Dahoon Holly Wildlife Management Area contains populations accessible to observers. Mixed pine-hardwood forests in the Coastal Plain, particularly in Bacon and Charlton counties, harbor flying squirrels. Francis Marion National Forest areas provide reliable habitat. Most concentrated populations occur in forests containing large oaks, hickories, and mixed hardwoods with significant canopy continuity. These areas typically feature old-growth characteristics including large trees with natural cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes essential for nesting and denning.
Typical Behavior and Diet
Flying squirrels in Georgia are strictly nocturnal, spending daylight hours in tree cavities, abandoned nests, or leafy dreys high in the canopy. They emerge at dusk and conduct nearly all foraging and movement during darkness, remaining invisible to most observers. Gliding is their primary mode of travel, allowing them to cover distances up to 150 feet while minimizing ground exposure to predators. Their diet consists primarily of acorns, with white oak and water oak nuts being preferred when available. Hickory nuts, pine seeds, and cypress seeds supplement their diet throughout the year. They also consume berries, fungi, and actively hunt insects including moths and beetle larvae. In fall, Georgia's abundant nut crop triggers intense caching behavior, with individual squirrels hiding thousands of nuts in scattered locations. Winter months find them relocating these cached foods as needed. They're highly social and share winter dens with multiple family members, huddling together for warmth during cold nights. Georgia's relatively mild winters mean less severe stress compared to northern flying squirrel populations. Territory sizes are small, typically covering just a few acres of forest.
Coexistence and Legal Protections
Flying squirrels are protected wildlife in Georgia and cannot be trapped, hunted, or kept without permits from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. These shy creatures actively avoid human contact and rarely cause problems around homes or properties. If a flying squirrel enters your home, contact a licensed Georgia wildlife removal professional for humane exclusion and exclusion repair. Flying squirrels do not carry rabies at higher rates than other wildlife species. They pose no threat to people and have minimal disease transmission risk. They're beneficial forest residents that disperse fungi and seeds during foraging activities. Protecting flying squirrels means maintaining mature hardwood forests with cavity-bearing trees. Dead snags provide essential nesting sites, and forest continuity allows populations to move between habitat patches. Georgia's wildlife management encourages landowners to preserve old-growth forest characteristics. If you find an injured flying squirrel, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Reporting sightings to Georgia's Department of Natural Resources helps biologists understand population distribution and habitat preferences. Learn more about flying squirrels and theirGeorgia habitat needs.
Species People Confuse with Flying Squirrels
The Eastern Gray Squirrel is the most frequent source of confusion as both are tree-dwelling rodents, but gray squirrels are significantly larger and completely lack gliding membranes. Fox Squirrels are even larger, with distinctive white face markings and prominent ears. Eastern Chipmunks are much smaller and have characteristic stripes along their backs and sides. They're also primarily diurnal, making them easy to distinguish from nocturnal flying squirrels. Red Squirrels are smaller than gray squirrels but still much larger than flying squirrels and lack gliding abilities. Virginia Opossums occasionally cause confusion when spotted in trees, but they're considerably larger and have distinctive white facial markings. Raccoons are much larger and more destructive to homes. The American Marten is found only in Georgia's northern mountains and is considerably larger than flying squirrels. Northern Flying Squirrels range into Georgia's highest mountains but are nearly identical to Eastern Flying Squirrels. Understanding thesewildlife identification featureshelps distinguish Georgia's forest mammals accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do flying squirrels rarely attack humans despite their nocturnal habits? Flying squirrels are solitary foragers with minimal human contact; they're far too small to pose any threat and actively flee when encountering people. Q: Can flying squirrels actually fly or do they just glide? They glide using their patagium membrane to slow descent and steer; they cannot generate upward thrust like birds, but achieve remarkable distance and control. Q: What are flying squirrels' primary predators in Georgia? Owls are their main predators, particularly Barn Owls and Screech-Owls, along with Southern Flying Snakes and occasionally raccoons. Q: How many flying squirrels might share a single nest during winter? Three to twelve individuals may share a winter den, huddling together for warmth and surviving severe cold together. ExploreGeorgia's flying squirrel populationsthrough our state wildlife resources.
Plan your flying squirrel sighting in Georgia
300 verified flying squirrel records have been logged in Georgia, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Georgia
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Cumberland Island National Seashore · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fort Pulaski National Monument · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Andersonville National Historic Site · Find hotels
More places to see flying squirrel
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