Big Bear Alpine Zoo mourns three flying squirrels — Lichen, Truffles, and Juniper

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo announced Sunday the deaths of three flying squirrels — Lichen, Truffles, and Juniper — a loss that eliminates the entire trio from the mountain community's beloved wildlife facility^[1]. The zoo shared the news via social media, offering details on at least one of the squirrels' conditions.

Lichen's decline began when veterinarians started treating her for an eye ailment several months ago, a process that led to the discovery of an untreatable tumor behind her eye^[1]. The causes of death for Truffles and Juniper were not disclosed in the announcement.

Truffles and Lichen had deep roots in the San Bernardino mountains. The pair were brought to the zoo in 2015 after being found nesting in an electrical box in Lake Arrowhead — a reminder of the kind of human-wildlife encounters that often bring animals into the zoo's care^[1].

The Big Bear Alpine Zoo specializes in the rehabilitation and release of local alpine species, and also maintains a permanent animal collection^[1]. The flying squirrels were part of that permanent collection, making their loss a meaningful one for staff and visitors who had followed the animals over the years.

No information on whether the zoo plans to house new flying squirrels in the future was included in the announcement. Residents can follow the zoo's social media accounts for updates on its animal residents and rehabilitation programs.