Hi all- I did not go out in search of gliders, but rather had the little guys thrust upon me. I work at a shelter and we had two gliders dumped on a shopping bag at a downtown pet store. One's rear leg was rotting off of its body, so we amputated it at the hip. After the surgery, I happened to walk into the recovery room to see the vet, three techs, and 2 wildlife rehabbers gathered around a screeching creature trying to get a mini x-ray film cone on the patient's head. Little did I know in about an hour I would agree to foster the little dude. Both are males and are completely unhandleable. By that, I mean downright nasty. I have been bitten (draw blood, biting and holding, deep nasty bites) over 25 times in the two weeks I've had them. I don't have luxury of giving them time and space and my patient needs meds and wound cleaning twice a day.

They are unadoptable through the shelter facility (my decision- too stressful for them to go back to facility and potentially end up with guardians just as bad as the last ones). I've contacted local rescues about them, but none will commit. So as of right now, I am fostering indefinitely. They are in a rat cage (appropriate bar spacing) not big enough for long term, but it will do for the recovery process. I have a mealworm farm, they get fresh fruits and veggies every day and Leadbeater's mix. I gave them fleece pouches and tubes and branches and a hanging coconut thing I found that is supposedly for gliders (they love it).

Every night I take their pouch out of their cage and set it next to me. I talk to them and they crab at me continuously for 10+ minutes. If I go near their cage they crab at me. If i set my arm near their pouch they crab and pounce toward me. I let them crawl in between two layers of shirts and they crab every time I move. They will eat from my hand, and will crawl on me without biting if I don't try to hold on to them. Interestingly, when faced with the choice of me or a stranger, they cling to me like a fly on a turd and turn their crabbing on the new guy. I need to get these guys to the point where they can be safely re-homed. I am desperate. I can't provide a forever home (college student, small apartment, 4 rats 1 mouse and a cat, little income) but I am committed to the little night goblins (my nickname for them) and will foster them until I find an appropriate home that is knowledgeable and has major glider experience and is willing to take on a challenge.

Please grace me with your advice glider community. I am willing to do anything to make these creatures lives less stressful.

When we brought my two babies home, the boy had chewed off the fingers on one of his hands and his arm was swollen about 5 times its regular size. Of course because we just got them, he wasn't exactly thrilled to have us grabbing him twice a day and shoving a syringe in his mouth to give him meds. Some tricks we used were wearing a gardening or mechanics glove to protect your hand and a square of fleece to pick him up with and keeping his eyes covered with the fleece as much as possible. It definitely helps to have two people but I did have to do it on my own several times. Treats like yogurt drops help to make it less of a bad experience and after some time of it (Smaug was on meds for over 2 months) he got more used to it and the bitting lessened.
Hope this helps at least a little

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Originally posted by JLR

When we brought my two babies home, the boy had chewed off the fingers on one of his hands and his arm was swollen about 5 times its regular size. Of course because we just got them, he wasn't exactly thrilled to have us grabbing him twice a day and shoving a syringe in his mouth to give him meds. Some tricks we used were wearing a gardening or mechanics glove to protect your hand and a square of fleece to pick him up with and keeping his eyes covered with the fleece as much as possible. It definitely helps to have two people but I did have to do it on my own several times. Treats like yogurt drops help to make it less of a bad experience and after some time of it (Smaug was on meds for over 2 months) he got more used to it and the bitting lessened.
Hope this helps at least a little

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Thank you for replying. I do have leather gloves and a washcloth that I use to restrain them when necessary. I've tried yogurt drops as well.

Ih222 where are you located?

I have a fantastic network of rescues and long term glider owners that help with medical issues. We work with amputations, self mutilators, tail injuries, sick gliders, recovery etc. We typically work in teams depending on what the gliders needs are. Xray film cones aren't the most reliable e collars for major injuries, if he is still in the e collar I can show you how to make a better one for him.

Sounds like your doing all the right things for them, gliders like this just need time to get adjusted and recover. Are you on Facebook ?

I am in Western NY. You can reach me at Lhoover022@gmail.com

I don't do emails. Western ny is where I grew up though lol. There really aren't many glider folks up there, especially any that are capable of rehabing and medical foster. There was one "rescue" up there near Albany but I haven't seen her active in a while, I don't think she got her licensing. Rehoming them, even finding a decent foster is going to be challenging. I know of one girl near Buffalo that potentially could do it, but you'd need to contact her via facebook.

Leanna Hoover, white pitbull in the profile picture.

I sent you a friend request and a pm. I already have some feelers out for someone local or at least within driving distance that can take them and is competent with recovery and rehabing gliders.