Sugar Glider Safety

 

Gliders are extremely inquisitive creatures and part of a responsible ownership implies ensuring their safety. Glider-proofing your surroundings and their cages is the first step to avoid any fatal accident.



USGN Safety Tips:

Securing the cage

  • Always check the seams on your pouches when you wash them, if there are lose strings, cut them and make sure there are NO little loops of thread waiting to come apart. If the pouch has a lot of strings, toss it-gliders like new things too!

  • Secure all doors; Zip tie doors that you will not use, as gliders can open doors!

  • Use safe toys with holes large enough for them to crawl through and with no sharp edges.

  • Make sure toys are in good repair, and do not have strings that can get wrapped on an arm or tail.

  • Make sure that the spaces on your cage are ½ in or smaller, a joey can easily fit through anything larger than a dime.

  • Do not use pine or cedar shavings as bedding (their oils could cause respiratory problems) or color newsprint to line the bottom of your cage. If unsure of your type of bedding visit our information center for other members experiences or read this comprehensive article at the SGRC

  • Maintain a clean cage -this reduces the growth of bacteria, which can lead to illness.

Securing the surroundings

  • Keep the toilet seat closed AT ALL TIMES as well as any other deep sources of water like fish tanks, water buckets...ect
    Glider can't swim and drowning is one of the highest causes of death)

  • Put away hazardous products and objects such as paints buckets, cleaning products, sharp objects...etc.

  • Turn off power source of ceiling fans, they are very dangerous to roaming gliders.

  • CHILDPROOF all electrical outlets with safety plugs. Some gliders have been able to pulled out plastic plugs so using solid outlet plates is even better .

  • COVER vents with household screening so gliders cannot slip through.

  • CLOSE dressers and closet doors. Place towels or other objects in any crevices. (anyone who has ever had to rip a closet apart to find a glider can attest to this!)

  • NEVER let your gliders in a laundry room. Dryer vents and washer coils are deadly!

  • Keep gliders away from all recliners and fold-away beds. While a great place for a glider to hide (they think), these have working metal parts that can trap and kill a sleeping sugar glider.

  • Keep your gliders away from the kitchen. The refrigerator is an especially dangerous place-the coils can kill.

  • CLEAN AND VACUUM frequently, so the gliders will not ingest or wrap themselves in anything harmful.