Abstract
Ecological characteristics of small Japanese flying squirrels, Pteromys momonga, such as weight, breeding seasons, development of infants, and habitat preference, were examined. The study was carried out in forests at Ashizu Valley, Tottori Prefecture, from May of 2010 to December of 2011. Twelve trees were selected in each of three study sites (10 to 20a), which were dominated by different tree species. Three nest boxes were set up on each tree at different heights above the ground (0.5m, 3m, and 6m). Observations include the following. (1) Squirrels bred at least in spring and summer. The number of young in a litter varied from one to eight. (2) The weight of adults was 100g to 170g. Female adults were heavier than male adults. (3) Squirrels almost always used the nest boxes at a height of 6m. They preferred the nest boxes in the artifi cial Japanese cedar forest near natural forests to the nest boxes in the young and matured natural forests.
