American Flying Squirrel: The Pink Glow
Real animals that sound made up. Every claim in these episodes is checked against published science or museum sources.
The story
Meet the southern flying squirrel. Just a couple of ounces, giant eyes, and it only comes out at night. North Carolina wildlife officials call it probably the most common mammal people never see. It doesn't truly fly. It stretches skin between its wrists and ankles and glides, steering with its legs and tail. Usually twenty to thirty feet, sometimes much farther.
In 2019, researchers reported that flying squirrels glow pink under UV light. A researcher spotted it by accident, when he aimed a UV flashlight at his Wisconsin bird feeder. Why? Scientists don't know yet. In winter, they pile into a nest together, sometimes ten or more, to stay warm. You can't see the glow without a UV light. But watch a bird feeder after dark, and you might meet your neighbors. Just enjoy the show from a distance.