Flying squirrels live mainly in forests across North America, Europe, and Asia, where there are plenty of trees for them to glide between.

Natural habitats

  • They prefer deciduous and coniferous forests and mixed woodlands with lots of mature trees.
  • Common spots include snags (standing dead trees), old woodpecker holes, nest boxes, and abandoned bird or squirrel nests where they can safely nest and hide.

Where they are found in the world

  • In North and Central America, the three species in the genus Glaucomys (northern, southern, and Humboldt’s flying squirrels) live from Alaska and Canada through much of the United States and into Central America.
  • Southern flying squirrels occur widely in the eastern U.S., from Maine down to Florida and west to Minnesota and Texas.
  • Northern flying squirrels have a patchier range, mainly in the Northeast, West Coast, and into Idaho and Montana, and in mature boreal and coniferous forests of the northern U.S. and Canada.
  • In Eurasia, many other flying squirrel species live across large parts of Asia, with the Siberian flying squirrel reaching into northeastern Europe (Russia, Finland, Estonia).

Close to people

  • In parts of the northeastern United States, flying squirrels are among the more common backyard squirrel species and may nest in attics or buildings if they find openings.
  • Because they are nocturnal and glide quietly, people often don’t realize they are living nearby, even in suburban or semi‑rural neighborhoods with mature trees.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.