A group of 33 sugar gliders — small, palm-sized marsupials considered “exotic pets” — are in search of new adoptive homes following their recent surrender to the MSPCA from a single home in Norfolk County, the group shared with MassLive.
Prospective adopters are welcome to visit the sugar gliders at the MSPCA’s Boston Adoption Center in Jamaica Plain during the shelter’s open hours from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, the MSPCA-Angell announced Thursday on X, formerly Twitter.
About 15 female sugar gliders from the surrendered group are currently in foster care to assess whether or not they may be pregnant, according to Sara-Rose Brenner, a spokesperson for the MSPCA-Angell.
Brenner told MassLive that those which aren’t will become available for adoption after a gestational hold expires, which lasts about three weeks.
For those which are pregnant, Brenner added that these mother sugar gliders and their babies will be put up for adoption “as soon as they’re ready.”
The animals’ surrender to the MSPCA occurred on Monday, Nov. 6, according to Brenner.
A group of 33 sugar gliders was surrendered to the MSPCA on Nov. 6 from a single home in Norfolk County. Photo courtesy of the MSPCA-Angell.MSPCA-Angell
The group is also in the process of neutering the male sugar gliders, Brenner said, adding that the males will be adopted out as soon as they have recovered from their neuters.
In late March, the MSPCA-Angell received an equal-sized group of sugar gliders from a home in Western Massachusetts from an owner unable to continue caring for the pets due to “medical issues” and the large number of animals in their care.
- Read more: 33 sugar gliders need new homes after Massachusetts owner had ‘medical issues,’ MSPCA says
Two women who work closely with sugar gliders, as a sugar glider-specific rescue owner and a breeder respectively, spoke with MassLive in April after this large surrender, saying at the time they hoped the MSPCA would adjust some of its policies on adopting out sugar gliders, such as when it came to neutering males it receives.
The current neutering of the males sugar gliders marks a departure from the MSPCA’s previous stance of declining to neuter the marsupials, which the organization confirmed to MassLive back in April, coupled in stance with other pets like guinea pigs and rats. Most animals in the MSPCA’s care, such as cats and dogs, are neutered.
A group of 33 sugar gliders was surrendered to the MSPCA on Nov. 6 from a single home in Norfolk County. Photo courtesy of the MSPCA-Angell.MSPCA-Angell
The MSPCA requires those who adopt sugar gliders to provide proof of sufficient cage space at home and that owners understand the complex diet of these animals — which need a mix of insects, fruits, vegetables, nectar-based goods and commercial pet food to stay healthy.
Due to the highly social nature of sugar gliders, the MSPCA is looking for adopters willing to adopt multiple sugar gliders or those who already have these animals at home, Brenner said.
In late 2020, the MSPCA also received a large quantity of sugar gliders when 44 were surrendered into its care from a home in Hatfield, where the previous owner became “overwhelmed” when the animals continued to breed and reproduce.
The MSPCA received more than 5,000 adoption inquiries for the pets at the time, with the organization receiving about 800 adoption inquiries for the group of 33 earlier this year.
Those curious in learning more about or adopting sugar gliders can read five things you should know about the tiny critters here.