It's a short but unforgettable experience. The night I took part in the tour, our group was very lucky because we got to see the white shape of the animal gliding in the sky twice! And now, all you have to do is wait for the flying squirrel to pop out from its nest, usually within 30 minutes after the sun has set. When the lecture is over, it is time to put your binoculars around your neck and quietly head to the the place chosen by the guide for the tour. It is native to Japan where it inhabits sub-alpine forests and boreal evergreen forests on Honshu and Kyushu islands. Also, all tours start with a funny and interesting lecture, so whatever happens, it is worth coming and learning about the life and habits of the Japanese giant flying squirrel. The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel ( Pteromys momonga Japanese:, Hepburn: Nihon momonga) is one of two species of Old World flying squirrels in the genus Pteromys. But according to Picchio's data, the probability of meeting up with a flying squirrel is 98.5% which means it is not that unusual to be able to see one. Inside each of them is a camera that is very useful to the guides because, thanks to the cameras, they can see where the flying squirrels are and decide on the location of the tour that evening.įor obvious reasons, it is not possible to lock a flying squirrel up in its nest all day long to make sure visitors will have something to see. However, in order to follow and study them, Picchio's teams have placed handmade nests in different places in the forest. Wild flying squirrels can build their own nest alone. These tours are run by Picchio, an organization whose main goal is to protect wildlife and to introduce the beauty of nature to the public through various guided tours and activities. The reason why they meet before sunset is because the flying squirrel is a nocturnal animal that leaves its nest mainly by night to look for food. Some can be found elsewhere in the world while others, such as the Japanese giant flying squirrel, are not common to see.Įvery evening from March to November, a group of people get ready to meet with the flying squirrels that live in the Wild Bird Forest in Nagano prefecture. They are in a unique category of Old World Flying Squirrels.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of other animals living in the country. These squirrels are only found in Japan and Europe from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific coast. Instead, it glides with a membrane, stretching from its forelimbs to hind limbs and covered with fur.

This rodent is one of the cutest and most lovable creatures ever known Despite the common name, this unique squirrel doesn't fly. It's a native Japanese species and one of the two Old World flying squirrels.

When thinking about wild animals in Japan, the ones that come to mind first are probably the deers in Nara, the koi carps or the Japanese macaques, also called snow monkeys.īut of course, wildlife in Japan is not limited to these species. The Japanese dwarf flying squirrel is an extremely small and fluffy squirrel.

Japanese flying squirrel