Jumping for Joy – Flying Squirrel Food in Indiana
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a…squirrel?! Wait, how is that squirrel gliding through the air so effortlessly? Is this some sort of ninja animal? You blink your eyes a few times to make sure you’re fully awake, but when you open them again, you see the creature flying off of the tree! Your coffee falls from your hand onto the sidewalk in shock and you run the direction in a panic while your heart pulses in your chest. You get about 50 feet (that doughnut you ate 30 minutes ago may have slightly slowed your endurance), and look back to see two kids laughing at your disheveled demeanor. They set out a small pile of corn feed for the outlandish creature, and the flying ninja squirrel (or whatever it is) quickly runs toward the flying squirrel food for a munch.
If you’re unfamiliar with flying squirrels, seeing one for the first time can be shocking. However, these creatures are perfectly harmless and, in fact, incredibly friendly!
Flying Squirrels – The 411
Though their name implies otherwise, flying squirrels cannot actually take flight in the same way as a bird or, well, a plane. Instead the squirrels use a furry parachute-like membrane that extends from their wrists to their ankles as a mechanism to glide from tree branch to tree branch. Their long tail gives the flying squirrels extra stability when they glide through the air. These combined factors give the illusion that this species of squirrel is able to soar through the air.
Most flying squirrels are nocturnal, so you might be more likely to see them later in the evening or early in the morning than in the late afternoon. They are omnivorous creatures, meaning they eat both meat (mainly in the form of insects) and vegetation. Flying squirrel food usually consists of fruit, seeds, flowers, insects, fungi, tree sap, and corn.
Corn Cobs – Prime Flying Squirrel Food
One of the most simple and delicious snacks for flying squirrels are simple corn cobs. You can set these cobs out in the park, under a tree in your backyard, and a variety of other woodland locations. The flying squirrels will quickly gather around the corn cobs and feast on their flying squirrel food. During this time, you are able to observe their cute and quirky behavior. If you’re lucky, you might even get to snap a few pictures!
Daily Family Farms
Here at Daily Family Farms, we want you to be able to experience the magic of nature through observance and participation. We are experts in flying squirrel food, and we sell fresh corn and feed for squirrels. We are able to package this feed and send it to you directly from our farm so it is as fresh as possible. If you want to get up close and personal with the wildlife in your area, call Daily Family Farms at (812) 371-5644.