Pacific Southwest Research Station

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Title: Nest trees of northern flying squirrels in the Sierra Nevada

Author: Meyer, Marc D.; Kelt, Douglas A.; North, Malcolm P.

Date: 2005

Source: Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 86(2): 275-280

Description: We examined the nest-tree preferences of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) in an old-growth, mixed-conifer and red fir (Abies magnifica) forest of the southern Sierra Nevada of California. We tracked 27 individuals to 122 nest trees during 3 summers. Flying squirrels selected nest trees that were larger in diameter and taller than either random trees or large (>50-cm diameter at breast height) nearest-neighbor trees. Snags were used more often than live trees relative to their availability. Nest trees were usually close to riparian habitat; 86% of nest trees were <150 m from a perennial creek. Flying squirrels selected red fir and avoided incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens). Mean distances between nest trees and size of core-nest areas were greater for males than for females. No detectable relationship was found between size of core-nest area and distance to a perennial creek. These results suggest that flying squirrels of the Sierra Nevada may require large trees and snags within 150 m of perennial creeks for their critical habitat needs.

Key Words: Glaucomys sabrinus, nest trees, radiotelemetry, riparian habitat, Sierra Nevada, snags

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Meyer, Marc D.; Kelt, Douglas A.; North, Malcolm P.  2005.  Nest trees of northern flying squirrels in the Sierra Nevada  Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 86(2): 275-280.