FIRST THINK ABOUT HOW WILD GLIDERS LIVE?

First, a little internet research gives us some information on the life style and habitat of wild gliders:

Sugar gliders are found throughout eastern and northern Australia (some have even been found in southern Australia), as well as its nearby islands, including Tasmania and Papua New Guinea. They can be found in all types of forests, but prefer the open forests where there is room to glide. Sugar gliders are social animals, nesting in family groups of up to twelve individuals. These groups are headed by a dominant male who will do most of the territorial marking. This territory, though small, consists of several eucalyptus trees and is readily defended by the entire group. Adult males mark the territory with saliva and with scent glands, and also mark members of the group with the scent produced by separate glands on the forehead and chest. Visitors which lack the appropriate scent marking are expelled violently.

Sugar gliders are nocturnal, spending their days sleeping in a nest in a hollow portion of a tree. At night they are highly energetic, performing amazing acts of aerial acrobatics and gliding distances of 200 ft (66 m).

Sugar Gliders can occupy any area where there are tree hollows for shelter and sufficient food. Their diet varies considerably with both geography and the changing seasons, but the main items are the sap of acacias and certain Eucalypts, nectar, pollen, and arthropods. They are difficult to see in the wild, being small, wary, and nocturnal, but a sure sign of their presence is the stripping of bark and tooth marks left in the soft, green shoots of acacia trees. These are signs of gliders foraging within their own territories.

In the wild gliders live about 7 years but in captivity, they may live up to fifteen years. As glider care takers we try to do our best to provide shelter, food and protection for our little friends. The extended life span of captive gliders is evidence that we can do a good job of protecting them from predators and providing for their nutritional needs. But is that all gliders need to thrive?

SO HOW DO WE MATCH A CAGE WITH THE NATURAL FOREST HABITAT?

OUT OF CAGE PLAY TIME!

We provide comfy pouches to replicate their tree top nests. Most of us strive to house two or more gliders together as a colony to replicate their family groups. We do the best we can to provide a diet that provides for their nutritional needs. We all agree a big cage, the bigger the better, is a necessity. We provide wheels for running, ropes, vines, and hammocks for jumping and climbing. BUT, what about the open forest tree top habitat where they can jump and glide long distances?

That is where out of cage play time becomes SO IMPORTANT! In order for us to give our gliders that experience of stretching their patagiums and really gliding we must give them the space to do just that. Gliders are also dependent upon their human parents to teach them the skills they would learn from their glider parents in the wild if they were fortunate to be born in a hollow tree top nest. Skills like foraging, gliding and climbing to great heights are necessary parts of stimulating the brains of our little fur kids and are just as important as food, shelter and protection.

What kind of activities can we provide for out of cage time?

Foraging - in their natural habitat gliders would not find dinner served each and every night on a plate close to their nest just before they wake up each evening! They wake up and must search the forest for foods that will provide the nourishment they need. The process of hunting insects for food, chewing bark to find saps, nibbling on leaves and flowers are all a part of the glider’s life in the wild. It is also a form of exercise for them. Lots of climbing, jumping, stretching are part of foraging. Treats and foraging toys in the cage are great but even better is providing these in a larger space so they can really explore and hunt for treats or better yet part of their dinner!

Climbing is one thing gliders would do frequently in their natural forest habitat. These would be long, high climbs not just the few feet the height of a cage provides. We need to provide out of cage time to do some real climbing. To really meet their climbing needs it is necessary to provide a large vertical area for climbing. A piece of fleece hung near the ceiling, curtains, shower curtains, even the wooden frame around a doorway can be the glider’s tree! Human parents standing in the middle of the room can be a good tree as well!

Gliding - Many of us, as new glider owners, wonder, “Does my glider know how to glide?” Well, gliders are born with the ability to glide, just as humans are born with the ability to ride a bike. Think about that - If you never saw a bike and someone suddenly put one in front of you and said RIDE! You would have no idea what was expected of you. Gliders need a little help discovering their ability to glide as well. First, they must have the space to glide. In the wild they jump long distances from tree to tree! A cage that is 3 feet wide and if they are lucky 5 feet high does not come close to the distance they would glide in the forest. So we must take them out of the cage and give them the space needed to glide.

Out of cage play time allows our Glider to combine these activities. Foraging or even curiosity about things around them are their reasons for gliding tree to tree - so offer some treats, an interesting toy hung from the ceiling or other things that a glider might wish to jump to. Two humans with goodies to offer make a good forest for a glider learning to jump from “tree to tree”.

Tents are often used to provide the space necessary for gliders to freely explore, climb, jump and if big enough glide. A glider safe bathroom, closet, enclosed hallway or even a glider proof room in your home can become the glider’s own forest where he or she can practice foraging, climbing and gliding. For their human parents, these out of cage times are also a wonderful experience. Once gliders have bonded with you, these out of cage times really show you how much your fur babies trust you. Like a human toddler, they demonstrate their independence but frequently will run (or glide!) back to you to make sure you are watching! Out of cage time can be the highlight of everyone’s day.