Sugar Gliders
Sugar gliders are among the most commonly trafficked pets in the exotic pet trade. Because they’re easy to purchase—yes, you can even buy one in Vegas—Animal Tracks has taken in many over the years. However, they are illegal to own in California, and once people experience their reality—loud, smelly, nocturnal, and, oh yes, equipped with a very painful bite!—they quickly realize sugar gliders may not be the ideal family pet.
We currently care for seven sugar gliders, ranging from grouchy to downright furious! But can you blame them? These little marsupials are the original nocturnal party animals and want nothing to do with the daylight. Often mistaken for flying squirrels, sugar gliders are actually a type of opossum—females even have a pouch to prove it. They require a highly specialized diet and plenty of space to glide, making small cages completely unsuitable for their needs. Their unique cape-like skin flaps, stretching from pinky to baby toe, allow them to glide effortlessly from tree to tree in the upper canopies of the Australian outback.
Our sugar gliders live in small groups, each with its own distinct scent. Males have scent glands on their heads, which they use to mark every member of their group. If an unfamiliar sugar glider dares to enter their territory, the family will quickly chase out the intruder. These guys run a strictly members-only club!"
ORDER: Diprotodontia
FAMILY: Petauridae
GENUS: Petaurus
SPECIES: Breviceps
Sugar gliders share similar habits and appearances with flying squirrels, but they are not close relatives. Sugar gliders are called this because they love sweet food, especially honey, and the word glider refers to their gliding ability when moving from tree to tree. They are nocturnal and spend their daytime hours sleeping in hollows lined with leaves. They carry materials for their nest with their tails. Their tails are prehensile and work like an extra hand. They are highly social and live in groups typically of seven or more adults and their offspring. Each group has a dominant male, and he scent marks everyone in his family. This united family will fiercely defend their territory against intruders. They especially love the sweet sap of eucalyptus. They also indulge in pollen, nectar, insects, arachnids, and small vertebrates. They mate year-round and have a pregnancy gestation of 16 days. Mama normally has 1-2 joeys and these joeys will be independent by 8 months old.
Threats
Fire, habitat destruction and pet trade
Conservation Status
LC - Least Concern