What type of lichen? Can they eat it?

[Floppysquirrel04]

Ok so right now we are at mount Shasta camping, and I noticed this green clumpyish lichen growing on the trees. There’s not much here but I was wondering if ace could eat it? Ace is a flyer, and I know that this lichen grows in abundance in the redwoods, where the Northern flyers live. So can a southern eat it? Also there are about a gazillion moths around here, about 3/4” long, like the kind everywhere. Can he eat those if I bring a few home?

[Diggie's Friend]

Photo of "Fremonti Bryoria" from Northeastern California. http://www.sharnoffphotos.com/lichens/bryoria_fremontii.html

Scroll down to see the photo of this tree lichen from California, as it can vary in color in other regions; in California think brown.

It is the brown strands that are this lichen, not attractive, but the flyers really like it!

Be sure to take photos of it on the branch and of the tree to identify it also. It is noted to be found in greater abundance at higher elevations.

I wouldn't feed this unless you do the chemical test for it at home just to confirm its non toxicity and identity.

This one should NOT contain Usnic acid that is toxic.

[Diggie's Friend]

Moths carry intestinal parasites.

In the wild they consume moths, yet in captivity they don't have access to all the natural sources that can counter intestinal parasites,

even so not eliminate them completely. In my view it's not worth taking the chance.

As for the ID of the "clumpy lichen", if you take a photo and post it, I will try see if I can come up with a match to ID it.

[Floppysquirrel04]

Thanks about the moths. You want me to pst a picture of the lichen??? I’m confused I did and I can see it I don’t know why you can’t.303111303112

Here they are again

[Diggie's Friend]

Sorry I missed that; I can't view the photos anyway as most of the photos posted on the board aren't compatible with my computer programs. http://www.nwnature.net/lichens/index.htm

From your description this clump form sounds like that of one of the toxic ones. You would need to test it with a chemical kit some of which can be made up.

Tutorial on identifying/ testing lichens:. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oozdok-yLxs

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/lichens/identification.shtml http://lichenportal.org/portal/

http://www.theenchantedgallery.com/lichen.html

[Diggie's Friend]

Likely you know about much of this already, yet for the sake of being comprehensive on the diet of the Northern Flying squirrel, I share that here as a reference source.

An observational study of wild foods, other than truffles that Northern flying squirrels were found to consume in the wild: https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/journals/pnw_1997_thysell001.pdf

Maple catkins (helicopters), Poplar catkins, Douglas fir seed.

Gathering pine pollen cones before they develop far enough to be ready to disburse is advisable. You may want to consider purchasing pure unpolluted Pine pollen from N.A. (not Russia), on Amazon.com.

"Oregon Mushroom" online offers wild Huckleberries; They also carry ground mushroom powder. Try the Chanterelle ground mushroom powder; just 1/4 Tsp. a day per squirrel added to the yogurt.

Variety is the key, that is from the wild diet, not the human diet, as squirrels having a very high metabolic rate can't afford to be fed much in their diet from foods with a low caloric value, not if you want them to be normal.

Not saying that they don't ever consume greens, yet when they do it is in small amounts, for their metabolism is so high that if they consumed much greens they would quickly run out of energy.

Fats, protein are their mainstay.

Hazelnuts (fliberts) are a favorite of flyers, just don't store the nuts in the freezer. instead place the nuts in a cool but very dry place away from heat, and don't keep them so long that they begin to degrade as all nuts eventually do.

Organic farmed chicken eggs, from chickens not fed soy, or fishmeal feed, is generally the most healthy source you can feed. Just poach the eggs using a pin in the blunt end, and boil them as noted for soft boiled.

The egg is done when the white is cooked but the yolk is still liquid. Scoop out the yolk and you can give it to your flyers.

I think I have already covered the grub worm source before, but just in case others haven't, see "Camilles Vita-mealies" online.

Like all squirrels they need sufficient calcium and other key minerals to support their metabolic and bone health. HHB mineral mix may be your best to easily provide that your squirrel's diet.

Place a split dose in the yogurt AM / PM dally, as this offers the best support for uptake of calcium.