2.5 Conclusion
Case Study—How Conservation Action Helps Protect Species: Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel
Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel (Christine Kelly/ NCWRC)
There are two species of flying squirrels in North Carolina—the Northern ( Glaucomys sabri- nus coloratus ) and Southern ( Glaucomys volans ). Carolina Northern Flying Squirrels (CNFS) are found on high mountain peaks in southwest Virginia, western North Carolina, and east- ern Tennessee in spruce-fr and northern hardwood forests. Flying squirrels are nocturnal, spending the day denning in tree cavities or dry nests flled with shredded Yellow Birch bark. At night, they forage principally on certain fungi and lichens, supplementing their diet with buds, catkins, fruits, sap, insects, small vertebrates, and eggs. CNFS was federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1985 and was identifed as a priority spe- cies for conservation in the 2005 Wildlife Action Plan (WAP). The 2005 WAP identifed the need for surveys to determine the distribution, relative abun- dance, and status of wildlife species associated with northern hardwood and spruce-fr forests, including CNFS. Recommendations also called for use of monitoring programs to assess current population status and trend information; research studies on the population biology of wildlife species as well as the ecological relationships between the species, their habitats, and the biological, physical, and chemical habitat components; genetic studies to explore the degree of genetic isolation of species restricted to high elevations; and support of collaborative research with colleges and universities. To date, work has involved partner- ships with USFWS, USFS, NPS, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), NCDOT, Duke Energy, Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative, Southern Highlands Reserve, Warren Wilson College, WildSouth, and Deltec Homes. Cooperative research efforts have involved NC State University, Auburn University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and the University of NC at Wilmington. Even before the 2005 WAP was published, annual survey and monitoring of CNFS populations was conducted within seven of the eight Geographic Recovery Areas identifed by USFWS
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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