In captivity, northern flying squirrels should be housed how, given their social nature?

• A. They should always be housed in separate cages
• B. They should be housed together
• C. They should be kept in isolation from all others
• D. They should be housed with other species

Answer: (B)

Because northern flying squirrels are social, they do best when kept with conspecifics in captivity. In the wild they commonly roost and travel in groups, so social housing allows natural behaviors such as shared nesting, grooming, and communal play. Providing a large, enrichment-filled enclosure with multiple nest boxes and hiding spots gives individuals space to choose when to interact and helps prevent stress and boredom. It’s important to monitor for dominance or aggression and to ensure sufficient resources—food, nesting sites, and perches—to minimize competition. Housing with other species or keeping individuals in isolation does not meet their social needs and can lead to stress, injury, or poor welfare. Separate cages would deprive them of social contact they rely on, and housing with other species can introduce disease risk and incompatible behaviors.