Flying Squirrels and Spies?

What do flying squirrels and spies have in common? Both hung out at Arlington's Long Branch Nature Center. The spies -- convicted FBI traitor Robert Hanssen and his Russian pals who reportedly used the park as a dead drop -- are long gone, but the little southern flying squirrels who watched their clandestine maneuvers still hang out. Come watch these cute critters as they soar down from the treetops to lap up peanut butter and pose for your camera. Before we head outside, a park naturalist will teach us about the wide-eyed cuties and we even get to gently touch one! This might be your only chance for a close-up encounter with one of these super-common but seldom-seen furry night gliders.

(IMPORTANT NOTES:

(1.) IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT SIERRA CLUB LEADER AND NOT LONG BRANCH NATURE CENTER, AS THIS IS A PRIVATE EVENT. (Barb22030@yahoo.com).

(2.) RSVP IS REQUIRED ON MEETUP. https://www.meetup.com/sierrapotomac/events/237668747/

(3.) COST/EXACT CHANGE: $5 mandatory fee for Arlington's program, plus voluntary $2 donation to Sierra Club. Please bring exact change.

(4.) FLASHLIGHT: optional.

(5.) DIRECTIONS: Use this address for GPS: 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA. Follow the one-lane driveway back to the nature center, which is at 38.860438, -77.122306.)

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/8/4/a/600_458310794.jpeg

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/8/5/7/600_458310807.jpeg

FOR MORE INFO:

PARK:
https://parks.arlingtonva.us/locations/long-branch-nature-center-park/

SPIES:
(http://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/July-August-2012/Spy-Games/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#artanc)

http://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/July-August-2012/Spy-Games/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#artanc

WASH POST:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/columns/roadtrip/maps/trip01282007.pdf

FLYING SQUIRRELS:
http://www.nhptv.org/wild/southernflyingsquirrel.asp

http://capitalnaturalist.blogspot.com/2015/02/southern-flying-squirrels.html

SQUIRREL PIX:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/olympusbjs/9o8Et5