Sightings of the endangered animal are largely charted by volunteer organisations, which say they frequently come into conflict with commercial concerns. The Finnish Nature League says that forests are often slated for commercial felling without any studies done into the possibility of flying squirrels in the area.
"Forests that are important to the flying squirrel population are cut down all the time in Finland without any information about them," says League forest expert Keijo Savola.
He feels that this is a major factor in the decline of the squirrel's population. Most researchers agree that the rare animal is becoming increasingly threatened by extinction. Finland, as one of the last European refuges of the animal, has a special responsibility under the EU to protect the squirrel.
Sightings of the squirrel have brought some road and construction project to a halt.
"In true Finnish fashion they blame the squirrel for slowing down development, even though the real culprit is the one who drew up the insufficient environmental study on the area," says Savola.
