Flying Squirrels    [28-06-2008] There are two kinds of flying squirrels - the northern flying squirrel and the southern flying squirrel. They can be found in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The northern flying squirrel is a little larger than its southern friend. The northern flying squirrel is about 30 centimeters in length. The southern flying squirrel is the smallest tree squirrel. It is 22-25 centimeters long including its tail. But it can be very hard to distinguish northern flying squirrels from southern flying squirrels. Despite their name, flying squirrels do not truly “fly.” In fact, they glide from tree to tree. A fold of skin stretches from the wrist of each front leg to the ankle of each rear leg. This loose fold of skin is used to glide through the woods. Flying squirrels are active at night. They glide from tree to tree while most of us are sleeping. They eat nuts, seeds and berries. They also eat bird eggs, insects and sometimes dead mice. Female flying squirrels give birth to four babies per birthing. They fiercely protect their young. But most flying squirrels don’t live longer than four years due to their many predators such as owls, hawks, and weasels.     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)