Baby Flying Squirrel Takes Flight for the First Time | Mammals | BBC Earth

Summary

The video script narrates the life of Siberian squirrels, highlighting their unique gliding ability using a furry membrane from wrists to ankles. It details their winter survival strategy, with females nursing their young in a woodpecker's nest to protect them from the harsh cold. As spring arrives, the young squirrels face the challenge of their first flight, showcasing a mix of eagerness and apprehension, as they prepare to leave the nest and embrace their new life.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The Siberian squirrel is a mammal that can glide without touching the ground, thanks to a furry membrane stretching from its wrists to its ankles.
• 🛫 This gliding ability is an efficient way of traveling for the Siberian squirrel, allowing it to move through the forest with ease.
• 👶 The female squirrels are responsible for feeding themselves and their young during the colder months.
• 🏠 The young squirrels are protected from the sub-zero temperatures by a disused woodpecker's nest hole, which serves as their shelter.
• 🍼 The mother's milk is crucial for the survival of the young squirrels throughout the harsh winter season.
• 🌱 As spring arrives, the forest warms up, signaling the time for the young squirrels to leave their nest.
• 🚀 The first flights of the young squirrels can be daunting, with some showing more eagerness than others.
• 🌲 The young squirrels climb higher up the trees before attempting their first glide, which increases the distance they can cover.
• 🎉 The first young squirrel successfully completes its glide, marking a significant milestone in its development.
• 😅 One young squirrel appears to have pre-flight nerves and hesitates, suggesting it might try again the next day.

Q & A

What unique ability does the Siberian squirrel have for getting around in the trees?

The Siberian squirrel can glide. It has a furry membrane that stretches from its wrists to its ankles, allowing it to glide efficiently without touching the ground.

What time of the year is the script referring to when the female squirrels are raising their families?

The script does not specify the exact season, but it implies a cold time of the year, as the female squirrels are preparing for winter by feeding and raising their young.

How do the young squirrels stay protected from the harsh sub-zero temperatures?

The young squirrels are kept in a disused woodpecker's nest hole, which provides shelter from the cold sub-zero temperatures.

What is the role of the mother squirrel's milk in sustaining the young throughout the winter?

The mother squirrel's milk is essential for the young squirrels' survival, as it provides them with the necessary nutrition to sustain them throughout the winter.

How many weeks later does the script mention after the young squirrels are born before they leave their nest?

The script mentions that five weeks later, the young squirrels are ready to leave their nest.

What season is it when the young squirrels are ready to leave their nest according to the script?

It is springtime when the young squirrels are ready to leave their nest, as the script mentions the warmth of spring has transformed the forests.

What challenges do the young squirrels face during their first flights?

The young squirrels face daunting first flights, with one of them appearing keen and the other showing signs of pre-flight nerves.

How does the script describe the process of the young squirrels preparing for their first flight?

The script describes the young squirrels climbing up the tree to gain height, which will allow them to glide further during their first flight.

What is the outcome of the first young squirrel's attempt to glide?

The first young squirrel successfully completes its glide, as indicated by the script's statement 'Made it.'

What does the second young squirrel's behavior suggest about its readiness for the first flight?

The second young squirrel's behavior suggests that it is not yet ready for the first flight, as it appears to have pre-flight nerves and may try again the next day.