found sugar gliders

Question
we found 2 young sugergliders in the house .we moved some stuff out of the bedroom and suddenly they appeared. i'm thinking the cat brought them in. before i found them, one had been injured...can't use his back legs. the other one showed up about 12 hrs later from one of the boxes and is fine. if the cat didn't bring these in, is it possible they brought the adult in weeks ago and it's been hiding ever since?

Answer





Hi Jill,

I just read this article in the Glider Vet Newsletter put out by sugar-gliders.com (an EXCELLENT website):

I found a Sugar Glider in my Yard, Garage, Attic, House, etc. -What
do I do?
=====================
by Lisa

I get calls almost weekly from people all over the country telling
me that they found a sugar glider somewhere on their property. In
nearly all cases, we've discovered that the animals found were not
sugar gliders, but flying squirrels. Flying squirrels are indigenous
to much of North and Central America. Unlike other larger squirrels,
flying squirrels are nocturnal, like suggies.

Flying squirrels also strongly resemble sugar gliders in
appearance. The following link from the University of New Hampshire
contains a picture of a flying squirrel:

http://extension.unh.edu/fhgec/graphics/NFSquir.jpg

Flying squirrels are similar in size, behavior and appearance to
sugar gliders. They are also from a completely different family
and origin than sugar gliders. Flying squirrels are in the rodent
family and sugar gliders are in the marsupial family.  Their dietary
needs are quite different, so following husbandry techniques for
sugar gliders is not a good idea if what you've actually found is
a flying squirrel.

The easiest way to determine if what you've found is a flying
squirrel or a sugar glider is by the tail. As you can see in the
picture, the flying squirrel has a flatter, broader, shorter tail
than the sugar glider. The flying squirrel tail is typically shorter
than the body and the sugar glider has a tail that is rounder and
longer than the body.

Click the following link to see a picture of our very own Chief
Gliding Officer, Arnold, showing off his long, beautiful tail:

http://www.sugar-gliders.com/images/pet-age-13.jpg

Now click below to see a picture of Morgan, the sugar glider in
full glide, just like the flying squirrel picture above:

http://www.sugar-gliders.com/images/morgan-gliding.jpg

Do you see the difference in the tail? These animals do actually
have a bit of difference in color, as well as markings. But from
the pictures, the easiest way to tell is by the tail. Is that what
they mean by a telltale sign?!

So now that you have an easy way to know what it is that you've
actually found roaming around your property, what do you do? My
best suggestion is to call some of your local vet offices and see
who they know in the area that specializes in squirrel rescue. Since
the flying squirrels are indigenous natives to much of North America
and Central America, it is best that the animals are raised and
treated in a manner that will make them suitable for release back
into nature. The most important factor in preparing them for release
is to not handle them extensively. If you do, they will lose their
natural fear of people (and other household pets), and this can
make them vulnerable if released. Many squirrels are found because
the cat brought them home, so if you happen to have a nice cat,
then the squirrel will learn that cats are nice, which is not
always true. Cats are skillful hunters, particularly ones that
live outdoors.

Your best bet is to find an experienced rehabilitator that will
raise the squirrel or squirrels for you and prepare them for future
release. And unless you want a bite on the nose, never call your
sugar glider a squirrel. They are very different animals from a
biological definition and with that come different standards for
good husbandry.

Some people do keep flying squirrels as pets, but before you do so,
check with your state laws. Some states prohibit keeping indigenous
animals as pets. But don't ask me about flying squirrel husbandry,
because I just don't know. I know lots about sugar gliders, but I'm
not well versed in the husbandry requirements for any other animals,
even if they do look quite a bit alike.

I hope this helps,

Betty