🍼 A Grove Without Joeys? | A Turning Point for the Keepers

There’s something magical about sugar glider joeys.

Their tiny hands, their blind trust, the way their personalities shine through even in their earliest days. At the Grove, we’ve celebrated each one—from the first tiny wiggle in the pouch to the moment they take their first brave hop into the world. And now… that chapter was coming to a close.

✂️ A Season of Change

With the arrival of spring, we were preparing for a major shift at the Grove. Four of our boys—Papa, Lucky, Junior, and Benji—were officially scheduled for neutering.

It wasn’t a decision we made lightly. We had grown to love the process of raising joeys, but we also knew we had reached a crossroads. All our current gliders were unlineaged, which meant that continuing to breed them wouldn't align with the standards of responsible, ethical glider care. The health and genetic diversity of the glider community matters—not just for us, but for every future home these little ones might one day find.

So, the bittersweet reality settled in: there would be no more joeys born at the Grove.

🌈 Sylph and Ostara: A Glimpse of What Could Be

Our newest arrivals, Sylph and Ostara, brought an entirely new kind of joy into our home.

Their vibrant colors stood in beautiful contrast to our beloved crew of mostly standard greys. Not better—just different. They turned heads. They sparkled. They reminded us how diverse and expressive sugar gliders could be.

We hadn’t brought them home to breed—both were unlineaged, and we intended for them to remain cherished pets. But they lit a spark in us. What would it be like to raise gliders whose patterns were unmistakably unique? Could we responsibly be part of preserving and improving the lineage of sugar gliders?

🧭 The Search Begins

And so, we began the next chapter.

We dove into research. We learned about genetic traits, lineage tracking, and breeding ethics. We asked questions, and more importantly, we found answers.

That’s when we connected with a highly respected breeder in Texas—someone with a proven reputation for health, care, and responsible lineage management. The trip would be long (8 hours each way), but we had just driven 9 for Sylph and Ostara. What was one more road trip in pursuit of the next step for the Grove?

We weren’t looking for a business opportunity.

We were looking for a way to keep a little magic in our lives—a few more joeys, raised with love and intention, to brighten our Grove and to continue the legacy that Mama, Marsha, and all the others had started.

Coming soon: A road trip, a new beginning, and the first lineage-breeding pairs to arrive at the Grove.
🌿 The Grove Keepers