I got my first pair of gliders about three years ago. They were not tame but I found them intriguing none the less. They would not allow me to pick them up but they would consent to being stroked while they sat on a branch and they would take a favorite treat from my hand. I spent many hours just watching them and marveling at the dexterous way they handled their food and daintily groomed their fur. They checked out every corner of their cage with such bright eyed curiosity, their ears rotating back and forth like radar dishes to pick up the smallest sounds.

I was amazed at the variety of noises they were capable of; everything from bird-like chatterings to muted, dog-like barking. They could make one noise that defies description but it sounds a bit like a cross between a swarm of bees and a rattle snake, only louder. I found it hard to believe that such a small and harmless animal could produce such a threatening noise at such volume. I have numerous school groups come out to my farm and before showing the gliders to the children, I take down the sugar glider's nesting box and without showing them what's inside, I ask them if they can guess what's in the box. They usually suggest a bird or a squirrel. Then I blow in the hole in the front of the nesting box and the gliders make their indescribable, crabby noise, and I ask the children to guess again. By this time the kids look somewhat alarmed and have backed up a couple of paces. The revised guesses are often things like rattle snakes or insects. They are always surprised and delighted (not to mention relieved) when I show them the cute and harmless animals inside.

Several months after I got my glider pair, I noticed that the female had babies in her pouch. It was pretty exciting to watch expectantly as the babies gradually filled out the pouch. Eventually, the growing youngsters distended the pouch so much that I got tantalizing glimpses of their arms, legs and tails as they wriggled around inside their furry pocket. Finally, I opened the nesting box one day to find the cutest babies I have ever seen curled up next to mom. They did not have their eyes open yet and their fur was very short. About a week later the eyes opened and I started to handle them on a regular basis. It was then that I really found out how wonderful sugar gliders could be as pets.......

I couldn't believe how trusting the babies were. They seemed to love being held and never once offered to bite me. They seemed very content to stay on my shoulder or at the back of my neck or to occasionally climb up on top of my head. When they got tired they would climb into my clothing, curl up, and go to sleep. They seemed to think of me as part mom, part playmate and part climbing tree and nest box. As they got older they became a little more adventurous and started to explore a little bit, making short forays down the back of the sofa but always returning to me periodically to check that I was still there. Gradually their trips away from me became more frequent and they would go further away. One of their favorite games was to climb up the curtains and survey the room from the curtain rod. Tame gliders can be extremely entertaining to watch when they are let loose in a room to play. A friend of mine has a glider that likes to launch himself off of the upstairs landing and glide down the stairwell to the ground floor. He then runs back up the stairs and repeats the procedure over and over again like a little kid at a water slide. While my gliders are now adventurous and outgoing in my living room, they still revert to perching on my shoulder and sticking to me like glue if I take them to a strange place. My female glider, Polly, is so trustworthy that I can take her outside on my shoulder without having to worry about losing her. I take her to a lot of schools, animal sales and exhibitions and people always comment on how cute and personable she is.

Unlike some exotics on the market, sugar gliders do make genuinely good house pets. In addition to their obvious attractiveness and engaging personalities, they are easy to keep and can even be kept in an apartment setting. Their dietary requirements are not difficult to cater to, consisting primarily of fresh fruit and dried cat food. On the whole, sugar gliders are clean and neat. You may occasionally get a whiff of a fruity, musky scent but it is not strong, doesn't last long and doesn't permeate a room. Even though they are capable of a repertoire of noises they are very quiet the majority of the time. Best of all, you can expect your glider to live between twelve to fifteen years. Now that's what I call a pet!