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Eagles
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Eagles prey on sugar gliders Australia has three species of eagle, all of which hunt the sugar glider. The wedge-tailed eagle is the largest raptor in Australia and feeds on carrion as well as live animals. The second largest, the white-bellied sea eagle, is more likely to hunt aquatic creatures but will feed on sugar gliders and other small animals. The little eagle, found throughout Australia and Tasmania, feeds primarily on small animals, including sugar gliders.
Owls
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Owls are aggressive predators. The Southern boobook, Australia's most widespread owl, is an aggressive predator of small animals, birds and insects. Found in forests and bushland, the masked owl hunts animals as large as possums and rabbits. The lesser sooty owl is a large owl that also preys on small animals. Known for its human-like laugh, the kookaburra is found throughout the forests and woodlands of Australia. It preys on many different small animals like sugar gliders, grabbing its prey behind the head and beating it on a rock or limb before feeding.
Snakes
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Snakes hunt among the tree tops. Australia has 140 species of land snakes, many of which prey on sugar gliders. The death adder and king brown snake are venomous front-fanged snakes. Mangrove snakes and the brown tree snake are venomous rear-fanged snakes. Venomous snakes attack by quickly biting and injecting venom into their prey and paralyzing it. Pythons and file snakes are non-venomous and constrict their prey. Snakes move along the ground and in the trees, making the gliding adaptation of the sugar glider important in evading them.
Goanna
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Goannas prey on sugar gliders. Australia's 15 species of monitor lizard are commonly called goannas. They range in size, with the largest being 6 feet long and the smallest being 8 inches. Goannas are predators that feed on a wide variety of animals which they often swallow whole. They prefer carrion but frequently hunt small animals, birds and reptiles.
Dingo
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Perhaps 3,000 years ago, wolves were brought to Australia from Asia, introducing a new predator to the isolated continent. Dingos are the descendants of these wolves and range throughout Australia. They prefer larger prey like wallabies and kangaroos; however, dingos will hunt smaller animals like sugar gliders.
Quoll
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Four species of quoll are native to Australia. They are carnivorous marsupials with a long pointed snout and sharp teeth that roam across wide areas at night, hunting small animals. They have a short life span, living only two to four years.
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Enemies of the Sugar Glider
Sugar gliders are one of five species of gliding possums native to Australia. They are small, furry marsupials widely distributed throughout many different habitats. Gliders have a thin sheet of skin extending from their forepaws to the rear legs that allows them to glide up to 164 feet between trees. The adaptation helps them evade predators. They feed at night on nectar, eucalyptus sap, pollen and insects. Their natural enemies include kookaburras, owls, eagles, dingos, quolls, snakes and goannas.