Saturday, April 20, 2024

Flying squirrels found in home

First Published:

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There’s been a rare, flying squirrel sighting near Brantford today. A homeowner saw something fly out of a hole in the side of his house. He was stunned when he realized what it was.

Look, it’s a bird, it’s a plane. No, it’s super squirrel. Actually, it’s a flying squirrel, exiting it’s cozy nest inside Jack Smith’s wall: “I figured it had to be a bird of some kind. I mean the hole is 20 feet off the ground. You don’t expect a squirrel.”

Smith says a woodpecker caused this small hole in the wood siding and five flying squirrels made themselves at home. He realized something was in the wall when he heard a chirping sound: “When I saw it come out and fly down to the tree, I was kinda’ shocked.”

Shocked because flying squirrel sightings are rare.

Jared Houliston is the owner of All-Wildlife Removal: “In the wildlife industry, we rarely get flying squirrel calls. The population isn’t that of an eastern grey squirrel or a black squirrel that we generally see. They’re nocturnal mostly, so when you’re in bed sleeping that’s when they do most of their activities.

Even more rare is to get this close to one. “See if we can’t get his wings out a bit.”

Flying squirrels don’t actually fly, they use the wings to glide up to 30 meters. The species has been on earth for about 30 million years and lives an average of a decade.

And while they flying squirrel looks cute and cuddly with its big button eyes, round ears and soft fur, they can cause a lot of damage to your home if they get inside.”

Houliston: “They are wildlife so urinating, defecating into the home also chewing of wires and drywall and eventually can make entry into the home. That’s why we are looking at getting rid of it as soon as possible.”

He called All-Wildlife Removal and within about an hour the flying squirrels had flown the coop.

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