The endangered Northern Flying Squirrel might finally reclaim some of its former territory thanks to a few strategically placed telephone poles.

When the last section of the Cherohala Skyway was completed through the remote reaches of Graham County in 1996, it compromised one of the flying squirrels’ few remaining high-elevation habitats. The road cut a swath through the tree canopy. The swath was too wide for the squirrels to glide across. Squirrels were also unwilling to scurry across the asphalt without the benefit of tree cover. The highway proved an insurmountable obstruction for the squirrels, effectively limiting their ability to make use of the important habitat.

The N.C. Wildlife Commission led an effort to install crossing poles along the highway — essentially tall utility poles capped with platforms. Two poles are placed on opposite sides of the highway. In theory, the squirrels will scurry up a pole and glide to the one on the other side. Three crossings were installed along the highway, for a total of six poles.

“If the wood poles are successful, they’ll help the squirrels cross the wide highway to the habitat on the other side,” said Chris Kelly, a biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Currently the northern flying squirrel can not cross the highway.

Wood poles were used successfully to bridge the gap for a similar gliding marsupial squirrel in Australia. Those animals used the poles, usually leaping from the launch pad, and landed on the nearest pole or tree, Kelly said.

To figure out the best place to put the poles, flying squirrels were caught in their nests and equipped with a radio collar. A volunteer with Mountain Wild, Dottie Brown, tracked the flying squirrels to figure out where and how they were moving along the Cherohala Skyway.

The project was a cooperative effort between the Wildlife Commission, U.S. Forest Service, N.C. Department of Transportation, Duke Energy and Western Carolina University.

Duke Energy donated the poles, as well as its Robbinsville crew and equipment for a day to install them.

“We’re very concerned about the environment in the Carolinas and wherever we serve,” said Kenny Street, of the Duke Energy Robbinsville crew. “This is all a part of our helping the environment and the community.”

— By Becky Johnson