While possums can technically ingest bread, offering it as a food source is not beneficial for their health. It is a common misconception that bread provides adequate nutrition for wildlife. Although they might readily consume it, bread lacks the essential nutrients possums need to thrive. Providing such unsuitable foods can lead to significant health complications for these animals over time.
Why Bread is Harmful
Bread negatively impacts possum health in several ways. It is primarily composed of refined carbohydrates, offering minimal nutritional value, and is deficient in the essential vitamins, minerals, and protein possums need for a balanced diet. A diet heavy in bread can result in malnutrition and compromise their immune systems, leaving them vulnerable to various illnesses.
The high carbohydrate content in bread is not easily processed by a possum’s digestive system, often leading to issues like bloating, diarrhea, and general digestive upset. This poor nutrition can contribute to obesity, making them less agile and more susceptible to predators. A prolonged diet of soft foods like bread can also cause dental problems and lead to severe conditions like “Lumpy Jaw” (Actinomycosis), a bacterial infection that can be fatal.
An imbalanced diet, particularly one lacking the correct calcium to phosphorus ratio, can result in metabolic bone disease, which can impair mobility and be fatal. Providing human food sources like bread can also make possums dependent on humans for sustenance, altering their natural foraging behaviors and reducing their ability to survive independently.
What Possums Naturally Eat
Possums are omnivores, meaning their natural diet is highly diverse and includes both plant and animal matter. They forage for a variety of insects, such as beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and ticks, making them natural pest controllers. Their diet also includes small animals like rodents, mice, frogs, and birds, along with eggs and carrion.
Beyond animal matter, possums consume a wide range of plant-based foods. This includes various fruits like berries, apples, and persimmons, as well as vegetables such as lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, and corn. They also eat leaves and grasses. Possums need high amounts of calcium, which they obtain by consuming the skeletal remains of small animals.
Safe and Healthy Alternatives
For individuals who wish to offer food to possums, provide items that are safe and nutritionally appropriate, and only in moderation. Suitable fruits include small pieces of apples, pears, various berries, bananas, cantaloupe, and watermelon. Avoid grapes and raisins, as these can be harmful.
Beneficial vegetables include leafy greens like romaine lettuce, kale, and spinach, along with squash, sweet potato, carrots, and cucumber. For protein, small amounts of cooked eggs (without the shell), insects such as mealworms or crickets, and cooked lean meats like chicken or fish can be offered sparingly. High-quality omnivore kibble or nutritionally complete dog or cat food can also be provided. Always ensure fresh water is available. These supplemental foods should be given in very small portions and not daily, as allowing possums to forage for their own food remains the best approach for their long-term health and natural behavior.