It is the only species of flying squirrel in Europe and is considered vulnerable in the European Union where it occurs only in Estonia and Finland.

[3] A female Siberian flying squirrel weighs about 150 grams, the males being slightly smaller on average.

A distinctive feature of flying squirrels is the furry glide membrane or patagium, a flap of skin that stretches between the front and rear legs.

[5] When alder and birch catkins are plentiful, the squirrel may store them for the winter in old woodpecker holes or similar nooks.

The most common sign of their presence is their droppings, which resemble orange-yellow rice grains and are often found beneath or on top of their nest.

It is the emblem of Nuuksio National Park in Espoo municipality of Finland due to the density of the population in this region.

[10] In Finland and especially the Baltic states, the Siberian flying squirrel has been at risk potentially becoming an endangered species.