Sugar Glider Fun Facts

A Sugar Glider, also known as Sugar Bears or Honey Gliders, are marsupials indigenous to Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding islands called the Bismarck Archipelago. They are quite popular as exotic pets in the United States, and are illegal in four of those states.

There are many Glider fun facts, such as its sweet tooth and amazing acrobatic feats. Aside from protein-loaded insects, they also enjoy sweet sap or nectar from trees and plants. They can literally glide through the air like a kite, with their arms and legs stretched out and it's tail used for steering. A thin membrane connects its wrists and ankles, giving the glider a kite-like appearance when in flight. In this manner, they can sail up to 328 feet at a time, moving through the trees very quickly. Their vocalization is commonly described as a “yip yip yip.”

Other glider fun facts are they can be great pets for devoted people. In many ways their mannerisms and behaviors mimic both cats and dogs but are more commonly similar to a dog. As a pet, they are very playful and enjoy spending a lot of quality time with their owner. Even the simple act of spending time in their owner’s pocket throughout the day is an enjoyable and affectionate experience. Also similar to dogs, they can be taught tricks. They are very clean, like cats, and want their living environment free of waste. Unlike cats, they cannot be trained to use a litter box. But, similar to canine companions they will signal their owner when it’s time to go, once properly trained.

Gliders also have a bad reputation as being a smelly pet. A neutered glider that is fed a proper pet diet will not have offensive odors. Proper diets for pet gliders are lower in protein and sweets, which tend to be the culprit for odors, while providing proper nutrition. When properly socialized, gliders rarely bite. If they do, the bite is like a hard pinch, unlike other small pets such as hamsters and gerbils with very sharp teeth that can break the skin.

Many of the negative aspects of owning a sugar glider can be negated if they are purchased from reputable places that breed them as pets. Gliders are commonly plucked from the wild and illegally sold as pets. Since these gliders are not meant to live in captivity, the results can be overwhelming and detrimental to both animal and human. Having a glider that was captured in the wild is illegal. While that does not matter to a person in the U.S. it demonstrates the seriousness of obtaining one these animals in the correct way.

As mentioned earlier in this article, there are four states that do not allow the ownership of sugar gliders. One of these states is California and like ferrets, to own one means breaking the law.

If you are serious about getting a glider make sure it is legal in your state and above all else please get them from a federally licensed breeder which will insure that you are getting a healthy and happy glider.
My name is Allan Stewart and I have several websites dedicated to health and well being for people and pets. Want to learn more about sugar gliders: sugar gliders facts Or visit my website at Sugar Glider Care for more facts about sugar gliders. Also see my other article for an Online Business: Starting Out In Affiliate Marketing