Sugar gliders, formally known as Petaurus breviceps, are cute little Australian critters that resemble the flying squirrels familiar to North America. They’re about the size of a rat and they are cousins to the opossum but they’re so cute its easy to forget those connections. In fact, they’re so adorable they’ve become the darlings of the pocket pets trend - people take them with them everywhere they go, in their pockets, in their purses, their hats, in whatever. Gliders are only about six inches long and weigh hardly more than four ounces so it’s easy to tuck them away somewhere close. They don’t like cats, though, so sugar gliders live where cats don’t.

In the wilds of Australia, sugar gliders live in small colonies in groves of eucalyptus and acacia and in the rain forests that line the northern and eastern coastlines of the continent and along the southern coastline as far west as Adelaide. Gliders even live on the island of Tasmania.

Sugar gliders are marsupials, meaning their tiny babies are born extra small then they live for a while in a cozy pouch on the female’s belly. True pocket pals, from the very beginning. Even though gliders live in trees, they don’t need nests. Instead, they prefer a well-padded, hollowed out pocket in a tree where they’re safe, warm, and food is nearby.

Its their eating habits that give sugar gliders their name. They love sweets! They enjoy the sweet sap from the trees they live in and the nectar from flowers, which tastes like honey. Gliders eat fruit, too, as well as insects. They’re omnivores, just like people, meaning they have a varied diet. They don’t get all their food from the animal kingdom nor from just the plant kingdom.

Sugar gliders are a delight to observe in the wild, one reason they’ve become such a popular pet. They’re cute, easy to care for, and their antics provide non-stop entertainment but your sugar glider will be much happier if you learn a little bit about him before bringing him home.

• Sugar Glider: Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland - Listen to the call of the sugar glider.
• Sugar Glider in Flight - This photo of a sugar glider in flight shows how he does it.
• Sugar Gliders in Tasmania - Sugar gliders live on the island of Tasmania, off the southern coast of the Australian mainland.
• Analogy: Squirrels and Sugar Gliders - Both these animals look alike and fly alike, which suggests a common evolutionary ancestor.
• Sugar Glider Pet Care - Gliders make adorable pets but require some special attention and tender loving care.
• Comparison of Commonly Used Diets - (PDF Document) Since sugar gliders are unfamiliar with the foods naturally available in the US, this discussion by exotic mammal veterinarians can help Americans feed their glider pets the healthiest diet possible.
• Diet, Healthy Weight, Comfy Cage - (PDF Document) Find a list of sugar glider foods, with amounts, and other helpful info sure to keep a glider happy.
• Out on a Limb - This scientist is studying sugar gliders to help find out why primates walk like they do.
• Sugar Gliders Coming Your Way - Enjoy this cute photo of two gliders in flight.
• Eucalyptus, A Glider’s Favorite Food - Discover this beautiful plant that’s so important to sugar gliders.
• Australian Rainforest Foundation - Explore Australia’s rain forests. You can even adopt a square meter of it for safe keeping.
• Australia - Learn all about the homeland of the of the sugar glider in this six-part TV series from PBS.
• Test Your Knowledge - Can you correctly answer these important questions about sugar gliders?
• Pocket Pets’ Sugar Glider Photo Gallery - See sugar gliders at work and play with the people (and other family members) who love them.