What states can you not own a sugar glider

Sugar Glider Legal States 2024

What Are Sugar Gliders?

Contrary to what many people believe when looking at them, sugar gliders are not rodents.Sugar gliders are small marsupials that are originally from Australian rainforests. They have been bred in the United States for about the last 15 years as the interest in keeping them as household pets has increased.

Do Sugar Gliders Make Good Pets?

Because sugar gliders have some advantages over other pets of a similar size, they have become very popular as pets. They have a much longer lifespan than similarly-sized pets like gerbils and hamsters. Sugar gliders live for an average of 10-15 years if they are well taken care of. They do not smell when they are fed a proper diet which is a huge advantage over many other household pets.

Sugar gliders are also very intelligent animals. They can learn their name, do tricks, and come when they are called. They are also extremely loyal and bonded to their human family. A bonded sugar glider will not try to escape from a family member, even when in new environments. Because of this, they have many benefits of owning a dog with a much smaller body size.

Caring for a Sugar Glider

Sugar gliders are fairly easy to care for as well. They do not require bathing. Sugar gliders meticulously clean themselves, so their owners do not have to worry about keeping them clean.

Young sugar gliders do not require a large cage, but one may be necessary as they grow older. Sugar gliders need plenty of room to play, jump, and move around. Because they are small (about 5-7 inches fully grown) even a large sugar glider cage will be a manageable size.

Because of advances in nutrition in the last decade, sugar gliders are fairly easy to feed properly. Sugar glider pellets provide the vitamins and proteins a sugar glider requires. Owners can feed fresh fruits and vegetables as long as they make up 25% or less of the sugar gliders diet.

Sugar gliders are one of the most cost-effective pets because they do not require veterinary care. They do not carry diseases or have other issues that would require them to be seen by a medical professional.

Where Can I Own a Sugar Glider?

Most states have no restrictions on owning a sugar glider as a pet. 41 states allow sugar glider pets.

In some states, it is legal to own a sugar glider as a pet but there are restrictions within the state. Minnesota allows sugar gliders statewide, but they are illegal within the city of St. Paul. This is similar in New York and Utah where sugar gliders are not legally allowed in New York City and Salt Lake City although they are legal in the rest of the states.

Another few states only allow sugar gliders if the owner has obtained a permit to own one. Georgia, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania all require permits to legally own a sugar glider.

There are only three states where it is completely illegal to own a sugar glider as a pet. Alaska, California, and Hawaii all ban sugar gliders. This is because they do not allow exotic animals out of concern for the effect on the native animal populations of their states.

Is It Legal to Own a Sugar Glider? (Breakdown By State)

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The purpose of this blog is to share general information and is written to the author's best knowledge. It is not intended to be used in place of veterinary advice. For health concerns, please seek proper veterinary care. In addition, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sugar gliders make for adorable little pets. The nocturnal pet is a wonderful companion, nevertheless, you may be wondering, Is it legal to own a sugar glider?

Luckily, most states dont have any restrictions regarding sugar glider ownership. Only a handful of states have not legalized sugar gliders yet.

Its also worth noting that some states may not allow you to own a sugar glider without a proper permit. Other states have cities that dont allow sugar gliders at all or at least without a permit.

Stick around to learn about whether or not its legal to own a sugar glider in your state.

Which States are Sugar Gliders Legal in?

Fortunately, several states allow you to accommodate a sugar glider pet. Of the 50 states, 40 of them fully allow you to own a sugar glider without any permit.

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Which States are Sugar Gliders Illegal in?

The exotic marsupial pet is completely illegal to own in the states listed below.

Which States Allow Sugar Gliders Only with Permits?

Some states may give you the freedom to own a sugar glider, provided that you carry a special permit.

• New Mexico
• Georgia
• Pennsylvania

In line with each of the mentioned states wildlife codes, youll want to have a permit inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture.

How to Get a Permit for a Sugar Glider

The process of getting a permit for a sugar glider differs in each state. For instance, in New Mexico, you need to get in touch with the Exotic Wildlife Department. The permit should entail a $25 fee.

Which States Have Cities that Restrict Sugar Glider Ownership

Some states have cities that ban sugar gliders completely. Other cities require a residential permit to own the exotic pet.

New York

Although sugar gliders may be legal in the state of New York, theyre not permitted within New York City. That includes the five boroughs, also known as, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

Nebraska

All cities in Nebraska allow sugar gliders except Omaha. In this city, you may have to resort to getting a permit.

Minnesota

Minnesotas city, St. Paul, prohibits the ownership of sugar gliders. Theyre banned mostly because the weather in the city isnt suitable for the little marsupial.

In addition to this, they are particularly high-maintenance pets.

That being so, the animal control department is worried that owners might abandon their sugar gliders out of frustration.

Utah

Salt Lake City in Utah does have restrictions on owning a sugar glider. Since the municipal code of the city identifies sugar gliders as exotic animals, they require a residential permit.

The code states that Residential permits shall include, but are not limited to, exotic animals.

Why are Sugar Gliders Illegal in Some States?

Sugar gliders are illegal to own in these states due to the health risks they may carry for wildlife. The marsupial may carry hoof and mouth disease, which could put other wildlife species in danger.

Additionally, sugar gliders can easily escape and if they breed in the wild, then they could potentially become an invasive species.

How Much Does It Cost to Own a Sugar Glider?

Native to Australia and some areas in Indonesia, sugar gliders are becoming popularized as pets. Before you consider owning one, you may want to familiarize yourself with the financial requirements of a sugar glider.

By doing so, youll guarantee a healthier and longer lifespan for your marsupial pet. Overall, the cost of owning a sugar glider per year can amount to anywhere between $500 to $1000.

To make things easier to follow, were breaking down the costs per each need.

Initial Costs

The first costs of owning a sugar glider consist of how much youll pay for the pet, its cage, bedding, feeding plate, ropes, ladders, and exercise wheels. Heres a run-through of each cost.

Sugar Glider Cost

The price of sugar gliders isnt fixed. A lot of factors can affect your expenditure on the exotic pet. For instance, if youre adopting a rescue glider, then it could cost around $50 to $150.

In other cases, if youre going to a breeder, the price tends to go higher and can even reach $500.

This could mainly depend on the kind of sugar glider you get. A white-faced glider can cost around $300 to $600.

Meanwhile, a more expensive mosaic glider could reach up to $2000 to $3000. Apart from kind, the cost of a sugar glider also depends on age.

Older options are usually cheaper since theyre much harder to train. They can cost about $100 to $150, while baby sugar gliders are priced between $200 to $500.

All in all, the price depends on the rarity and demand of the gliding marsupial.

Another factor worth considering is that sugar gliders, more often than not, need another glider friend to live with. Otherwise, they are more at risk of developing depression.

Living Costs

Before you bring in the glider, youll want to purchase their cage. Sugar gliders particularly need large spaces to move around in.

The dimensions should at least amount to 24 x 24 x 36 inches.

It could have metal bars or a wire mesh surrounding it. This can cost approximately $200 to $300.

Besides the cage, the gliders nesting pouch. Luckily, this supply is cheap and costs about $10 or so. You can optionally provide bedding at an additional cost of $10.

Your sugar glider is also going to need a food and water dish, which both cost about $10 to $20.

Another cost you dont want to forget is toys. Theyre crucial for your sugar gliders health since theyre naturally active at night, when you may be asleep.

Toys can cost around $20 to $50. You can purchase a wheel, a rope, or a ladder. Alternatively, you can even get a PVC pipe to create a tunnel for your little glider to play around in.

You can also buy hanging bird toys, just make sure theyre not too small, or else your glider might mistake it for a snack.

Health Costs

Sugar gliders dont normally require vaccinations, saving some costs, but they may need some health examinations done.

You can complete an annual health check-up just to ensure your glider is in good shape. These vet visits typically cost a range between $50 to $100.

In terms of health maintenance, the main issues you want to look out for are obesity and diabetes, in which case, you just need to monitor your pets food intake.

Youll also want to make sure theyre getting enough exercise.

Now, if you want to keep a female and male sugar glider together, its best to neuter the male.

Spaying female sugar gliders isnt a common procedure since its relatively complicated. Neutering the male may set you back at about $40 to $50.

Another health concern worth noting is the presence of parasites or ticks.

Broadly speaking, you likely wont run into such issues since the sugar glider will spend most of its time indoors. Nevertheless, if your glider does happen to need a deworming session, it should cost around $15 to $30.

Having said that, several other health issues may arise for your exotic pet, and their treatments all range in price.

For instance, if the glider suffers from actinomycosis or a lumpy jaw, you may need to pay around $350 to $2000, depending on how advanced each case is.

Plus, the marsupial could get aflatoxicosis, which is a liver disease that may need $1500 to $6000 in treatment costs.

Emergency and Insurance Costs

Any sort of emergency could happen to your glider. Thats why its always a good idea to keep an additional $100 to $300 for safekeeping.

Apart from that, you can also opt for exotic pet insurance. We suggest getting insurance as your sugar glider gets older since it tends to be high priced ranging from $200 to $250 annually.

Now, most owners have more than one sugar glider, so costs tend to add up.

If you keep your sugar glider in healthy shape, you may be better off keeping money for emergencies rather than getting insurance.

Food Costs

In the wild, sugar gliders naturally consume tree sap, insects, and small reptiles. As domesticated gliders enjoy an omnivorous diet filled with fruits and vegetables.

For their protein intake, they can eat cooked lean meats and chicken. They can also eat dairy products such as hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and yogurt.

Even though their taste buds can accommodate a variety of foods, their small stomachs can only take so much.

Thats good news for your wallet since you generally dont have to spend more than $30 per month to feed your glider.

Try not to feed them too much so you avoid obesity complications, which can increase your health spending in the long run.

Travel Costs

If you plan on moving around a lot, you wouldnt want to keep the sugar glider alone in its cage. To carry it around with you, a travel carrier is a way to go. These generally cost approximately $20 to $50.

Where Can You Buy a Sugar Glider?

If you live in one of the states that do allow sugar glider ownership, you may be thinking, Where can I buy one? Well, various breeders and adoption centers would be able to assist you in your purchase.

Buying a Sugar Glider from a Breeder

Fortunately, there are trustworthy breeders you can purchase a sugar glider from.

Janda Exotics

One of the most well-known options is Janda Exotics located in Kingsbury Texas. The animal ranch was founded in 2008 and focuses on creating exceptional breeding programs.

They attempt to recreate a suitable environment for their animals to breed in.

Overall, they would make a wonderful and sustainable choice for a breeder. You just need to pay a $50 deposit to reserve a glider and the amount will then be counted into the total price.

Dragonstone Ranch

Another breeder choice you can resort to is Dragonstone Ranch. They are USDA-licensed and can send the glider to all mainland U.S states.

Its worth considering that the ranch has a strict policy regarding the number of gliders sold. They wont sell a single sugar glider unless you already have one at home.

If you order a male glider, itll be neutered and youll need to sign a No Breeding Contract if you get a female. You can choose to purchase baby, juvenile, or adult sugar gliders.

The best part is that when you buy the glider, you also get a travel carrier, fleece cage pouch, and breeder support.

Glider Pets

Located in Houston Texas, Glider Pets have been around since 2002. The USDA-licensed breeder holds impressive health standards.

The breeding company is periodically visited by vets and even the President of the Association of Sugar Glider Veterinarians, Dr. David Brust.

They ship nationwide through airlines such as United and Delta Airlines for a $250 fee. Once the glider arrives, youll have to pick it up from the airport.

Apart from that, Glider Pets offer several kinds of sugar gliders such as Mosaic, Ring-Tail, Platinum, Strawberry, and Ebony Sorong.

Adopting a Sugar Glider

Several adoption centers can provide you with rescue sugar gliders. Keep in mind that it may take a longer time to adopt a glider than shop.

Minnesota Pocket Pet Rescue

Minnesota Pocket Pet Rescue is a tax-exempted adoption center specializing in providing several pocket animals with a home. To adopt a sugar glider, youll have to fill out an application on the companys website.

Once the application has been approved, you then schedule a virtual meet and greet with the center. If all goes okay, theyll ask you for a picture of the gliders new home for further inspection.

If its not up to standard, theyll advise you on ways to make it better so you can house the little marsupial.

You should also be aware that this adoption center only accepts applications coming from specific states. The states are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.

Arizona Sugar Glider Rescue

The Arizona Sugar Glider Rescue organizations adoption process involves you submitting an application.

Afterward, theyll contact you back through email to set up an appointment, where youll go to their adoption center to meet the gliders.

The center doesnt ship the gliders, so youll have to be at their Phoenix, Arizona location. Having said that, youll need to pay a $100 adoption fee for the glider.

Fortunately, the adoption includes a fecal test conducted by exotic vets and the males are neutered as well.

Sugar Glider Guardians

The Sugar Glider Guardians is a non-profit organization aimed at educating others about how to care for sugar gliders.

It offers a few adoption options, where you can get a colony comprised of one to six gliders or a pair.

The organization will not provide one glider unless you already own another one. Apart from that, the process is simple.

You basically need to fill out their online adoption form and complete a questionnaire then confirm.

The glider rescue organization also provides a couple of products for glider care and you can also donate to their cause.

Other Methods of Purchase

Besides breeders and adoption centers, you can get a sugar glider through other means. For example, mall kiosks, social media, and pet expos are all areas you can potentially find one.

That being said, we wouldnt recommend this means of purchasing a glider since it could be unreliable. Most of these places mainly sell exotic pets for the monetary benefit and may not prioritize the health and well-being of the sugar gliders sold.

Thats why wed suggest looking at your local pet shops. Although the chances of finding a sugar glider there are small, you never know.

Plus, if they dont have one, you can always ask them for advice on where to look. They could also provide you with reliable breeder contacts.

Final Thoughts

Is it legal to own a sugar glider? In most U.S states, you can legally own a sugar glider. Only a few states like Hawaii and Alaska dont permit gliders for wildlife protection purposes.

In other cases, some cities dont allow sugar gliders like St. Paul in Minnesota.

Other states such as Georgia or New Mexico, will require you to provide a license or residential permit for owning a sugar glider.

Now, before you decide to own a sugar glider, you should be well aware of the costs of caring for one.

Plus, youll also want to find a reliable place to purchase the glider such as a rescue center or certified breeders.

I have a bachelors degree in construction engineering. When Im not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, Im at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house. Growing up, I had pet dogs, cats, deer, sugar gliders, chinchillas, a bird, chickens, fish, and a goat.

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