Exotic Pet Travel to the United States

Name: Ashley
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Sugar Glider and Hedgehog
From: Okinawa, Japan
To: The United States

Hi,
My husband is in the U.S. Military and we currently live in Okinawa, Japan. We are due to be back in the states here in about 8-10 months or so. We have a hedgehog and sugar glider that we purchased out here and we really want to take them back to the States with us. Is this going to be possible? We really don't want to have to sell them.

If it is possible, are there any requirements by the U.S. government to bring them back with us? I talked to the local animal quarantine office and they do not have any requirement for taking the animals out of the country.

Thanks so much for your help!
Ashley
 

Hi Ashley,

Thanks for your question, we'd be happy to offer some information.

According to the USDA website, there are no import requirements for sugar gliders. 

It's a good idea to go straight to the most relevant and official source (a government office, etc.) when researching topics related to pet travel. If you decide to bring your pets to the United States, you'll also want to check in with the airline to find out what their particular regulations are regarding these types of pets -- a health certificate of some kind will likely be required.

Finally, we also suggest talking to your vet about sugar glider and hedgehog travel to be sure you can prepare them to have as safe a journey as possible. Long flights can be taxing for any kind of pet, and pre-flight health screenings and paying close attention to hydration are both good practices to follow.

Hopefully this helps get you started, Ashley. Feel free to contact us if you'd like to find out more about the services we offer.

Happy traveling!