Habitat & Safety
Before letting sugar gliders out to play, take time to make the room as safe as possible.
Safety First
When letting your sugar gliders out to play, it is always a good idea to glider-proof the room first. Removing dangerous situations before playtime can save a sugar glider’s life.
Even in a glider-proofed room, sugar gliders should always be supervised. They are curious, quick, and very good at finding trouble.
Checklist
Sugar gliders must be watched at all times during playtime, even if the room has been glider-proofed. They are naturally curious and can squeeze into small spaces, climb into unsafe areas, or get into trouble very quickly.
Room Choice
Choose the safest room possible for playtime. Laundry rooms are generally not good glider rooms because sugar gliders can get into washers and dryers. Dryers are especially dangerous because the vent hose can lead outside.
Walk-in closets and bedrooms often make better glider-proofing spaces because they are usually easier to close off and check for hazards.
Other Animals
Other pets should be removed from the room during sugar glider playtime. Even trusted pets can react quickly on instinct, and accidents can happen before a person can stop them.
This includes dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, other small animals, and any sugar gliders that should not be interacting together.
Small Spaces
Seal or block anything you can fit more than a finger into. Sugar gliders can squeeze into tiny spaces, and once they are inside a wall, vent, cabinet gap, or fireplace area, they may be very difficult or impossible to reach safely.
Doors & Openings
Windows and doors should be fully closed before gliders come out. Cabinets and drawers should also be closed so gliders cannot crawl inside and become trapped or injured.
If the glider room opens to the outside, place a sign on the door to warn others not to enter while gliders are out of the cage.
Electrical Safety
Use child safety plugs to cover electrical outlets. Unplug unnecessary items and remove cords or electrical devices from the room when possible.
Sugar gliders may climb on cords, chew on items, or crawl behind electronics. The less electrical clutter in the room, the safer the play area will be.
Furniture
Sugar gliders can be injured or trapped in recliners, futons, gliding chairs, folding furniture, and furniture with moving parts. These items should not be used while sugar gliders are out.
If a piece of furniture has gaps, hinges, springs, or moving sections, treat it as unsafe during playtime.
Water Hazards
Sugar gliders cannot swim safely. Cover or remove standing water such as toilets, fish tanks, buckets, sinks, tubs, cups, and open containers.
Toilets are especially dangerous. Keep toilet lids closed, and consider folding a towel between the lid and seat so a glider cannot slip inside. Some owners also use a toilet ladder that hooks to the side of the bowl, but preventing access is still the safest choice.
Household Hazards
Remove garbage, laundry, and excess clutter before playtime. Keep lids on trash cans and remove harmful items such as chemicals, medicines, unsafe houseplants, and food.
Clutter creates hiding places, and household items can become dangerous quickly if a glider chews, licks, climbs into, or becomes tangled in them.
Appliances & Heat
Turn off all fans, including ceiling fans, before letting gliders out. Remove space heaters and anything with a hot surface. Unplug and cover appliances that could harm a glider, such as paper shredders, printers, and similar devices.
