Southern Flying Squirrels in Southeast Kansas

By Kent Hensley, Habitat Specialist Manager, KS

The southern flying squirrel is a well-documented species that has maintained a small presence in eastern third of Kansas, though little is generally known about them. This is partially due to the flying squirrel’ s nocturnal nature. However, they have been identified as a Species in Need of Conservation (SINC), highlighting the importance of productive woodland habitat. 

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever Habitat Specialist, Ty Gatton, discovered that the southern flying squirrel had no documented occurrences in Labette County, where he worked at Grant Osage Wildlife Management Area, despite encountering the species nearby. This led Ty to start researching nesting boxes, before embarking on a project to determine if there could be a population in Labette County. First, Ty consulted fellow Habitat Specialist Logan Cares and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Area Manager Rob Riggin on appropriate builds for the boxes and the best location on the wildlife area for installation. Next, the work began with 21 nest boxes built and deployed at 7 sites through hardwood timber in a random assortment of tree species. 

Everyone patiently waited for fall when it was time to check the nesting boxes. While many remained unoccupied, several yielded surprises, like a mouse and wasp, before the crew were finally met with the very species they hoped for: the southern flying squirrel. However, story didn’t end there as the following year; a Kansas State University master's student requested permission to conduct a camera trap study on the SINC species at Grand Osage. With actively nesting squirrels documented, DNA samples were taken, and GPS collars were fitted to further study their movements and document the extent of their home range.   

Habitat specialists, with their on-the-ground expertise, are often the first line of defense when it comes to conserving habitat and wildlife. Ty’s story is one example of the impact Pheasants Forever staff have on the landscape, often where it is least expected.