Wind Squirrel

Wind Squirrels are playful rodents who live in small colonies. A species of flying squirrel, wind squirrels are smaller and lighter boned than other squirrels, capable of extended gliding and sensitive to air currents to a degree that makes them seem almost capable of flight.

Description

Wind Squirrels are small and delicate boned, with particularly wide, flexible tails. The extra width in the tail assists in their ability to glide when spreading the skin flaps between their limbs and helps with steering and navigation. While many species of flying squirrels are brown or grey, the Wind Squirrel is usually fairly reddish in tone, and has tufted ears.

Physiology

Wind squirrels live in colonies of multiple dozen individuals, and demonstrate intelligence equivalent to rats, capable of problem-solving and forming social bonds. While cute and playful, they are also incredibly mischievous. Herbivores that will eat about anything with a fondness for fruit, they are considered a pest in gardens or orchards, particularly as an entire colony can pick or orchard or garden clean, and the Yuriban House Cat or Petite Thylacine are often allowed access to these areas by their native owners to help hunt the squirrels. They have little sense of restraint, and will sometimes even try to steal fruit or food from the hands of girls eating them. As small rodents, they are a commonly hunted food by smaller predators. They reproduce more slowly than many other rodents and in small numbers and have fairly high energy needs, necessitating undergoing near-hibernation during colder months.

Folklore

Wind Squirrel tails are popular charms and gifts, and often put over up in orchards and groves as a warning to other wind squirrels to stay away from there, they are not wanted. Their fur is very light and not favored for any crafting use.