Overview
The San Bernardino flying squirrel is an arboreal rodent and the most southerly distributed subspecies of Humboldt’s flying squirrel. Threats to the species include its highly isolated range, diet specificity and climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
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Scientific Name
Identification Numbers
Characteristics
Behavior
It does not hibernate and is nocturnally active year round. It can glide through the air between trees at distances up to 300 feet.
Habitat
Its habitat is encompassed largely within the San Bernardino National Forest. Flying squirrels use cavities in large trees, snags and logs for cover. Habitats are typically mature, dense conifer forest, particularly those containing large amounts of down woody material.
A dense growth of trees and underbrush covering a large tract.
Food
Truffles, lichens and conifer seeds make up the majority of its diet. Invertebrates in the soil are also consumed. The species is also known to opportunistically forage at bird feeders in residential neighborhoods.
Physical Characteristics
The San Bernardino flying squirrel is medium-sized and grayish brown, being smaller and paler in color, and with a relatively shorter hind foot and tail than most other Humbolt’s flying squirrels. It has furry, parachute-like panels of skin that stretch from its wrists to its ankles.
Geography
Its historic range lies within the high-elevation forests of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountain ranges of San Bernardino and Riverside counties in southern California, although it is currently considered extirpated from the San Jacinto Mountains. It is also isolated from flying squirrel populations to the north by 150 miles of Mojave Desert.
Timeline
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