Are There Flying Squirrels in Washington?
Yes, Northern Flying Squirrels live in Washington's mountains. They inhabit the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains, where old-growth conifers provide cavities and dense canopy. These nocturnal gliders are common in suitable habitat throughout the state's mountain zones. Forest visitors rarely see them, but their presence indicates a healthy mountain ecosystem.
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
Yes, flying squirrels are in Washington. Next you'll want:
Yes, Northern Flying Squirrels live in Washington's mountains. They inhabit the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains, where old-growth conifers provide cavities and dense canopy. These nocturnal gliders are common in suitable habitat throughout the state's mountain zones. Forest visitors rarely see them, but their presence indicates a healthy mountain ecosystem.
Where Flying Squirrels Live in Washington
Northern Flying Squirrels in Washington are restricted primarily to the Cascade Range, where they occupy old-growth Douglas fir, western hemlock, and mixed conifer forests at middle to high elevations. The North Cascades, particularly around the North Cascades National Park area, support thriving populations. The southern Cascade region, including the Mount Rainier area and surrounding national forest lands, hosts numerous flying squirrels. The Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula provide another stronghold, with flying squirrels living in the dense temperate rainforests and mixed conifer stands. The Snoqualmie Pass region east of Seattle offers good flying squirrel habitat. Western Washington lowlands and the Willamette Valley have fewer or no flying squirrels due to the lack of old-growth forest with suitable cavities. You can exploreWashington wildlife pagesto explore more about mountain forest inhabitants. Eastern Washington, including the Blue Mountains and Wallowa region near the Oregon border, may host small populations in appropriate elevation forests. Overall, flying squirrels in Washington are mountain specialists, absent from the urban corridors of Puget Sound and the dry eastern portions of the state.
Season and Timing
Northern Flying Squirrels in Washington remain active throughout the year, with no migration pattern. Winter activity decreases somewhat as snow accumulates and temperatures plummet, but they continue to forage on stored seeds and nuts cached during fall. Spring and fall are peak activity seasons, when they gather mast and prepare food stores for the lean months. Breeding occurs in late winter and early spring, with females raising litters in tree cavities from February through April. Young squirrels emerge from their nests in late spring and early summer, becoming more active as they learn to glide and forage. Summer brings increased nocturnal activity as food becomes abundant. Fall is the most energetic season, as flying squirrels cache thousands of seeds and acorns, relying on their spatial memory to relocate these stores throughout winter. Night length increases in fall and winter, giving flying squirrels longer periods for foraging and activity.
How to Identify a Flying Squirrel
Northern Flying Squirrels are tiny rodents, weighing only two to three ounces and measuring about five inches in body length. Their fur is soft and dense, colored a distinctive gray or grayish-brown on the back and pure white on the belly. The most obvious feature is the loose fold of skin, the patagium, that stretches between their front and hind legs. When gliding, they spread their legs wide to stretch this membrane, creating a wing-like surface that slows their descent and allows them to steer. Their eyes are large and forward-facing, perfectly adapted for nocturnal vision. Their ears are small and rounded, often tucked into their fur. The tail is long, feathery, and heavily furred, serving as a rudder during glides and as a blanket when curled around their body for warmth. Their incisors are bright orange and continuously growing, requiring constant gnawing to maintain proper length.
Where Sightings Concentrate in Washington
Northern Flying Squirrels concentrate in old-growth forest patches within the Cascade Range, particularly where large Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar trees provide numerous cavities for nesting. The highest densities occur in unmanaged or lightly managed forest stands with a complex structure and abundant large trees. Mount Rainier National Park and the surrounding Gifford Pinchot National Forest are reliable locations, especially in the higher elevation zones. The North Cascades area, including Snoqualmie Pass and the surrounding wilderness areas, supports notable populations. The Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park, particularly the western slopes receiving high precipitation, offer prime habitat. Sighting rates increase in spring and early summer when young are becoming independent and activity is higher. VisitWashington's wildlife resourcesto learn more about where to find and observe mountain inhabitants. Campgrounds and hiking trails in these mountain regions sometimes offer opportunities to hear or spot flying squirrels after dark. The most likely encounters occur on moonlit nights in old-growth forest stands far from human development.
Typical Behavior
Northern Flying Squirrels are strictly nocturnal, remaining in their tree-cavity homes throughout the day and emerging only after sunset. They are solitary by nature, though they may nest communally during harsh winters to conserve body heat. Their diet consists almost entirely of seeds from Douglas fir, hemlock, and other conifers, along with some fungi, insects, and tree buds. Flying squirrels are expert gliders, launching from high branches and angling their bodies to steer toward lower trees. A single glide can cover 50 to 80 feet, and they make multiple consecutive glides to traverse the forest. Landing with their claws dug into the bark, they use their tail for balance and momentum control. They are vocal animals, producing quiet chirps, squeaks, and chattering sounds, especially during breeding season and when alarmed. Flying squirrels create elaborate food caches throughout their territory, hiding seeds in hundreds of locations and relying on spatial memory to retrieve them during food shortages. For more information, visitwildlife guidesto learn more.
Coexistence and Safety Notes
Flying squirrels in Washington are protected under state wildlife law and cannot be trapped, killed, or removed without a permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. They are beneficial forest residents that help disperse seeds and promote forest regeneration. Flying squirrels pose no threat to humans and are too small and shy to cause any conflict. Encountering a flying squirrel in a home is extremely rare given their preference for old-growth mountain forests far from development. If an injured or orphaned flying squirrel is found, contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center for proper care. The presence of flying squirrels in your forest is a sign of healthy, intact old-growth forest and intact forest ecosystem function. These nocturnal gliders are valuable indicators of forest health and biodiversity. Learn aboutall wildlife in Washingtonto appreciate the full wildlife group of forest inhabitants. Protecting old-growth forest ensures flying squirrels continue to thrive in their mountain homes.
Species People Confuse With Flying Squirrels
The most common confusion involves the Eastern Gray Squirrel, which is rarely found in Washington but is much larger, weighing 16 to 21 ounces compared to a flying squirrel's two to three ounces. The Fox Squirrel, also larger and with rusty coloring, is not present in Washington's native range. The Douglas Squirrel, also called a chikaree, is much smaller than a flying squirrel but lacks the distinctive gliding membrane and is diurnal. Chipmunks are active during the day and much larger than flying squirrels, making confusion unlikely once you know what to look for. Some people misidentify flying squirrels as flying mice or gliding rodents, but no flying mice occur in Washington. Flying squirrels from a distance might be briefly mistaken for some other nocturnal mammal, but their distinctive silhouette in flight and their characteristic chirping calls help distinguish them from everything else in the forest canopy. For more aboutflying squirrel identification, check state resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are flying squirrels found throughout Washington? A: No. They are restricted to mountainous regions with old-growth forest, primarily the Cascades and Olympics. Lowland areas and eastern Washington lack suitable habitat. For more details, visitwildlife guidesto learn more. For more information, visitwildlife guidesto explore more. Q: Can I see a flying squirrel in Mount Rainier? A: Flying squirrels live in Mount Rainier, but seeing one requires patience, darkness, and luck. Listen for their calls after sunset in old-growth forest areas. Q: What threatens flying squirrels in Washington? A: Old-growth forest logging and habitat loss are the main threats, along with climate change affecting forest composition and structure. Q: How can I help flying squirrels? A: Support forest conservation, protect old-growth stands, and report sightings to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to help track populations and habitat.
Plan your flying squirrel sighting in Washington
792 verified flying squirrel records have been logged in Washington, most recently in 2025. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Washington
- Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fort Vancouver National Historic Site · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Lewis and Clark National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Mount Rainier National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Nez Perce National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
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