Page 2 - Kind News, Jr. Jan/Feb 2022, Parent Guide

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ANSWER KEY VISIT

KINDNEWS.ORG
for online
Critter Clues FROM PAGE 7 activities!
Our mystery critter is the flying squirrel.
This unique rodent lives primarily on three main continents: North America (with
small populations in Central America), Asia, and Africa. There are two North American species
of flying squirrel: the northern flying squirrel and the southern flying squirrel. Flying squirrels
live across a range of climates, but survive best in forested areas. However, since they are
nocturnal, people don’t often get the opportunity to see them. They are omnivorous and eat a
variety of foods, including mushrooms, berries, bird eggs, insects, and flowers. They are also
very resourceful and can store up to 15,000 nuts in a single season!
Flying squirrels are known for their ability to glide from tree to tree. They can travel more than
150 feet with one glide, at up to 20 miles per hour! The membrane stretching from their wrists to
their ankles, called a patagium, is what allows them to glide. It also acts as a parachute. When
they want to glide from one tree to the next, they launch themselves from a high branch, spread
out their limbs, and steer with their legs and tail. They use their tail and cartilage near their wrists to help them stop.
A few species of flying squirrel are endangered. The San Bernardino flying squirrel in California faces decline as the fungi they
rely on for food has become less available due to the effects of climate change. The Virginia northern flying squirrel’s populations
in West Virginia have also declined drastically because of clearing of red spruce trees in their habitat. However, people have
helped the Virginia northern flying squirrel’s population start to grow again by working to restore spruce forests. You can help
flying squirrels by raising awareness about their habitat and doing your part to combat climate change! For more information, visit
nwf.org and search “flying squirrel.”

front page: bigstock, redrover. this page: (critter clues) bigstock.
What Do Animals Do In The Winter? Crossword Word Scramble
FROM PAGE 6 FROM PAGE 3
1
F
2 H O 3 B ANSWER KEY
ACROSS I R I
4. Squirrels B A R 1. Toys
5. Adapt E G D 2. Wheels
6. Migrate 4 S Q U I R R E L S 3. Water

N 4. Paper
DOWN A
1. Forage 5 A D A P T
2. Hibernating I
N Where’s Raja?
3. Birds
6
M I G R A T E RAJA IS HIDING ON PAGE 8!

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