They are furry, tiny enough to fit in the palm of your hand and can glide through the air. Many people see a cuddly sweet looking Sugar Glider at a pet store or online and decide they have to have one, not realizing how much time and money goes into caring for them. If you don’t do your research you will soon find out it is not easy living with a nocturnal “party” animal that enjoys the nightlife! Because of this many end up at a rescue facility within a year. If you are considering adopting a sugar glider keep in mind they need a spacious cage with plenty of room to fly and host rockin’ parties as well as a diet that includes fresh fruits, veggies and protein daily. In the meantime, check out these fun facts about Sugar Gliders:
Did you Know … Fun Facts About Sugar Gliders
- Sugar gliders get their name from their love of sweet foods and a membrane that allows them to glide
- They are native to Australia, Tasmania, Indonesia & Papua-New Guinea
- A marsupial, they raise their young in a pouch on the mom’s belly
- An adult Sugar Glider is very tiny, they will weigh between 4 to 5 oz, and grow to 13″ long and can live up to 15 years
- Sugar Gliders are Nocturnal meaning they sleep during the day & are active at night
- Even though they are fur covered, their ears are hairless. Their ears move independent of each other in constant motion picking up sounds
- Their tail is used for stability and balance and direction of flight when gliding
- A membrane of skin runs from the wrist to the ankle giving the Sugar Glider the ability to glide
- For a tiny animal they make loud barking sounds like a small dog
- A Sugar glider is a social animal which means they do better in pairs but normally live in groups of up to seven adults and their young
- In the wild their diet is made up of insects, small vertebrates, tree sap from Eucalyptus, Acacia and Gum trees, nectar, pollen and fruits
- Sugar Gliders can peel the bark of a tree with their teeth! Imagine what a bite would feel like!
- Much like a ferret or skunk they have glands on their body to emit scent and mark with their urine
- They are one of the most commonly traded wild animals in the illegal pet trade, where animals are plucked directly from their natural habitats
