The Virginia opossum is a familiar sight across much of the continent. As the only marsupial found north of Mexico, this adaptable creature has successfully navigated diverse environments, from woodlands to suburban backyards. Despite their wide distribution, the feeding habits of the nocturnal opossum are frequently misunderstood. This article clarifies the components of their varied diet and explains the significant role they play in local ecosystems.
The Specifics of Possums Eating Ants
Opossums consume ants, though these insects are not a cornerstone of their diet. As generalist foragers, they opportunistically eat ants and other small invertebrates encountered while seeking out larger food sources. The opossum’s foraging technique involves rooting around in the soil, leaf litter, and under logs, often leading to the incidental consumption of surface-dwelling insects. Ants, beetles, crickets, and earthworms are all part of the insect protein they encounter nightly. Unlike specialized predators such as anteaters, opossums do not actively seek out large ant colonies; instead, their consumption is a part of their overall scavenging behavior, where any small, available protein source is acceptable.
Defining the Omnivorous Diet
Opossums are true omnivores and scavengers, resulting in an incredibly broad diet that changes based on what is available in their immediate environment and the time of year. Major components of their diet include a wide array of plant matter, such as fruits, berries, nuts, and fungi. They also consume a significant amount of animal-based food, including small rodents, birds and their eggs, reptiles, and amphibians. Perhaps their most noted dietary role is that of a natural clean-up crew, as carrion (dead animals) forms a substantial part of their intake. This adaptability allows them to thrive in varied habitats, from rural areas to dense urban settings where they may forage for discarded human food scraps.
Possums as Natural Pest Controllers
The opossum’s opportunistic diet provides natural pest control, benefiting the environment and human properties. Their habit of eating nearly anything means they target many common pests that bother humans and gardens. Specific examples of this benefit include their appetite for slugs and snails, which are notorious garden destroyers. One of their most significant contributions is the consumption of ticks. Opossums are meticulous groomers and efficiently remove over 90% of the ticks that attach to them. Estimates from studies suggest a single opossum may eliminate several thousand ticks in a season, acting as an ecological trap and reducing the local population of ticks that can transmit diseases like Lyme disease.