![316538326_174966608516516_1280466303944431250_n.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/borepstein/23xATcDQBH3NN9TVX86eMQbY3Y3dsRkr85JN1yJ8QTyCwou2JTYEQNAjTehC2TG3VmUNv.jpg)
**Image:** Plymouth Police Department

Police Officer Andrew Whelan was busy directing traffic in Plymouth, Massachusetts on the Atlantic coast of the US when a flying squirrel laded on him. His colleagues are now joking that Whelan is planning to keep the animal as a companion pet.

I somehow never knew that these cute flying - or, rather, gliding - animals are present throughout much of the US, including all along the East Coast. I guess if I have ever seen them I just assumed them to just be regular squirrels as they are similar in appearance. But they are a divergent branch of evolution.

## References

[Plymouth police officer gets visit from flying squirrel while directing traffic](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/plymouth-police-officer-gets-visit-from-flying-squirrel-while-directing-traffic/) * [archive](https://archive.ph/Cys7K)
*CBS Boston*, 27 November 2022

[Flying squirrel (wki)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_squirrel)

[Flying Squirrels](https://www.nwf.org/educational-resources/wildlife-guide/mammals/flying-squirrels)
*NWF*