The Japanese flying squirrel is a petite, fluffy creature famed for gliding between trees. Roughly the size of a human hand, it sports a gray or brown coat, white belly, large eyes, and a bushy tail. Active at night, it naps in tree hollows by day and emerges after dark to feast on nuts, seeds, and insects. These squirrels are masterful gliders, covering up to 100 feet by stretching their limbs. They aid in controlling insects and serve as prey for raptors, playing a key role in Japan's ecosystem.
