Ulsan confirms endangered flying squirrels nesting at Taehwa River walkway
Version 2: A second outlet has now published a full report on the sighting, adding the researcher's confirmation that the animals in the photos are flying squirrels; the confirmed facts of the discovery are otherwise unchanged and no new developments on breeding have been reported.
In short
Ulsan city said two flying squirrels — a natural monument and endangered wildlife class II — were confirmed living in a tree hole along the Taehwa River riverside walkway, the first nesting recorded there. A nature guide first photographed one on September 9, and a photographer later filmed two entering and leaving the hole at dusk. A researcher said the pair appeared to be a male and female together for breeding, and that continued observation is needed to confirm it.
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Ulsan city said two flying squirrels — a natural monument and endangered wildlife class II — were confirmed living in a tree hole along the riverside walkway on the midstream stretch of the Taehwa River, based on photographs and video. [ 1 , 3 ]
The first record came on September 9 at about 2 p.m., when nature guide Lee Chan-suk looked into a woodpecker hole while passing the walkway and photographed a flying squirrel. Photographer Yoon Ki-deuk, described by Yonhap as a citizen biologist, then visited the site at dusk on September 17 and 23 and filmed two flying squirrels entering and leaving the nest hole. [ 1 , 3 ]
Han Sang-hoon, a researcher at the Korean Peninsula Wildlife Research Institute, said after reviewing the photos and video that the animals pictured were flying squirrels, and that while the species normally lives separately as male and female, the two together appeared to be a male-female pair for breeding. He said the species breeds once or twice a year and that the animals were presumed not to have given birth yet, adding that continued observation is needed to confirm whether they breed. [ 1 , 3 ]
According to Yonhap, the flying squirrel is a small squirrel about 15–20 cm long that glides between trees by spreading a skin membrane between its front and hind legs. It is nocturnal, active from dusk to dawn, was designated a natural monument in 1982 and is protected as endangered wildlife class II. [ 1 ]
The city said the species had previously been confirmed in forest areas including the Seoknamsa area and Baenae village in Ulju county and a cypress plantation on Cheonma mountain in Buk-gu, but that this was the first time a nest had been observed at the Taehwa riverside walkway. [ 1 , 3 ]
An Ulsan city official called the finding welcome news showing the ecological value of the Taehwa River, which residents use often, and said the city decided not to disclose the specific location as far as possible to protect the habitat. The official also asked walkers to keep noise to a minimum for the sake of the wild animals that sleep during the day. [ 1 , 3 ]
Newsis carried a headline reporting the flying squirrel observation at the Ulsan Taehwa River walkway, but the article text published beneath it concerned an unrelated investigation into hacking in the financial sector, and no other details on the animal were reported there. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The confirmation is the first time the species has been found nesting along a walkway that residents use regularly, which the city presented as evidence of the Taehwa River's ecological value. The city said it would limit disclosure of the location and asked walkers to keep quiet, so any follow-up depends on continued observation rather than public access.
Key facts
- Ulsan city said two flying squirrels were confirmed living in a tree hole along the midstream Taehwa River riverside walkway, documented in photographs and video. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Nature guide Lee Chan-suk first found and photographed one on September 9 at about 2 p.m. while looking into a woodpecker hole. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Photographer Yoon Ki-deuk filmed two flying squirrels entering and leaving the nest hole at dusk on September 17 and 23. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Researcher Han Sang-hoon of the Korean Peninsula Wildlife Research Institute said the two appeared to be a male-female pair together for breeding and had likely not yet given birth. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The city said the species had previously been found in forest areas including Ulju county's Seoknamsa area and Baenae village and a cypress plantation on Cheonma mountain in Buk-gu, but never at the Taehwa riverside walkway. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The flying squirrel is a natural monument designated in 1982 and is protected as endangered wildlife class II; it measures about 15–20 cm and glides between trees using a skin membrane. [ 1 ]
- The city said it would not disclose the exact location and asked walkers to keep noise to a minimum for the nocturnal animals. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Two flying squirrels, a natural monument and endangered wildlife class II, were confirmed living in a tree hole along the Taehwa River riverside walkway in Ulsan. [ 1 , 3 ]
- A nature guide, Lee Chan-suk, first found and photographed one on September 9 at about 2 p.m. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Photographer Yoon Ki-deuk filmed two flying squirrels entering and leaving the nest hole at dusk on September 17 and 23. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Researcher Han Sang-hoon said the two appeared to be a male and female together for breeding and had likely not yet given birth. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Ulsan city said nesting had previously been confirmed in forest areas such as Ulju county's Seoknamsa area and Baenae village and Buk-gu's Cheonma mountain, but this was the first time at the Taehwa riverside walkway. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Ulsan city announced the confirmation and said it would not disclose the specific location to protect the habitat. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the two squirrels will breed successfully. Researcher Han Sang-hoon said they were presumed not to have given birth yet and that continued observation is needed to confirm breeding; no further observation results are reported.
- The exact nesting location. The city said it decided not to disclose the precise location to protect the habitat.
- The Newsis report on the sighting. Newsis carried a headline about the flying squirrel observation, but the article text published beneath it concerned an unrelated financial-sector hacking investigation, so only the headline fact could be used.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- September 9, 2026: nature guide Lee Chan-suk spots a flying squirrel at the Taehwa River walkway after looking into a woodpecker hole and records it in a photograph. [ 1 , 3 ]
- September 17, 2026: photographer Yoon Ki-deuk visits at dusk and films two flying squirrels entering and leaving the nest hole. [ 1 , 3 ]
- September 23, 2026: Yoon films the two flying squirrels at the nest hole again at dusk. [ 1 , 3 ]
- October 6, 2026: Yonhap reports the city's confirmation of the two flying squirrels at the walkway. [ 1 ]
- October 6, 2026: Newsis publishes a headline reporting the observation. [ 2 ]
- October 6, 2026: Maeil Business publishes its report on the finding. [ 3 ]