Why do sugar gliders bark? Every sugar glider owner has heard the bark of their pet glider, but what does it mean, and is there any way to stop them from making so much noise?
If you’re the proud owner of a sugar glider and keep them near the place you sleep, I’m sure you’ve woken up in the middle of the night due to the noises they make. Almost everyone that keeps their fuzzy friend in their room has had this experience. But why do they bark and make other weird noises, and is it possible to stop them from doing so?
There are several reasons why your sugar glider might bark. They can bark to let you know they’re hungry, want your attention, or if they’re sick. However, it’s also possible that they will bark for no reason at all. If they don’t stop barking, the best thing to do is to check on them to make sure everything is okay.
To learn more, keep reading and I’ll explain everything you need to know.
Why do sugar gliders bark?
Sugar gliders are social animals, and in the wild, they live in packs. When they live in the wild, they use their barking to communicate with the rest of the pack.
For instance, if they notice that there’s a threat, they can alert the rest of the pack with their barks. In captivity, they can emulate this behavior when they’re being confronted with someone they’re not accustomed to. They can also do this when you first get them and they’re not used to your presence yet.
Sugar gliders can also bark to let you know that they’re hungry. If you’ve forgotten to feed them, and you hear them bark, it’s probably a good idea to give them some food to see if they’re making noise because they’re hungry.
It’s also possible for sugar gliders to bark because they’re sick. This might be the case if the barking is chronic and doesn’t stop when you’ve tried everything.
If your sugar glider is barking all the time, check on them to see if you notice any glazed white film on their eyes, chewed-off nails, or anything else that can indicate your friend is sick. They are very delicate creatures, so if you think there’s something wrong with yours, do not hesitate to take them to the vet.
It’s very common for sugar gliders to bark just because they want your attention and they are lonely. Maybe they just want to play with you because they’re bored.
How to stop the barking
The barking sound of sugar gliders can be pretty annoying, especially if they keep doing it when you’re trying to sleep. Let’s go over some things you can try to stop them from making so much noise.
- Feed them. As I’ve said before, they might be barking because they’re hungry. Try giving it some food to see if it’ll make the barking stop.
- Put their cage away from windows. If your glider’s cage is located next to a window, this can cause them to bark more often. They can see strange people, cars, or animals through the window and will bark to alert the rest of the pack of their presence. Moving their enclosure away from the window can fix this.
- Get a companion for your glider. Gliders are highly social animals and can bark because of loneliness, getting a second sugar glider will prevent your friend from getting lonely when you’re not around and he will have someone to play and interact with.
- Reduce stress. Stressed-out gliders bark more frequently. They can be stressed for a variety of different reasons such as unexpected noise. Try moving them to a different room to see if they stop.
What does the bark of a sugar glider sound like?
The sound of a barking sugar glider kind of sounds like a weird squeaky toy. Or an alarm clock. Or a radiation detector. To get an idea of what they sound like, check out this short video:
Are sugar gliders noisy at night?
Yes, they are noisy at night. Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals in the wild as well as in captivity. This means that they spend most of the day asleep, and are awake during the night.
Because of this, they will also do the majority of the barking and noise making at night. Therefore, these marsupials can definitely be considered noisy animals at night.
If you keep your glider’s cage near where you sleep, you will inevitably notice the barking and other noises they make during the night.
This might wake you up, or it might not, depending on how heavy of a sleeper you are.
Why do sugar gliders make weird noises?
Barking is not the only noise that sugar gliders can make. They’re also capable of hissing, crabbing, chirping, purring, and singing. On the whole, they’re quite vocal creatures, which is definitely something you need to keep in mind if you’re considering getting a pet glider.
The reasons why they make these noises differ; usually they purr, chirp, and sing because they’re happy, and as a sign that they like you. Hissing and crabbing, on the other hand, usually mean they’re angry.
Final words
Sugar gliders can be quite noisy animals. They can produce a variety of different sounds but the one that you’ll frequently hear is barking. They exhibit this behavior for a variety of different reasons, or sometimes for no reason at all.
The best way to prevent excessive noise from your glider is to make sure that they’re well-fed, have a friend, and are well socialized. Happy gliders tend to be much quieter than unhappy gliders, so try your best to provide them with what they need.
Nevertheless, they are exotic animals, and the noises they make are part of who they are. It’s impossible to completely stop them from barking if they do not want to stop.
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