Possums are common nocturnal visitors in many backyards, prompting curiosity about their natural behaviors and dietary habits. Gardeners often wonder if their fruit-bearing plants, such as grapevines, are appealing to these nighttime foragers. Understanding their diet helps explain their presence and guide interactions with these unique creatures.
Possums and Grapes
Yes, possums do eat grapes and are often attracted to them in gardens. Grapes are a favored food source for opossums due to their sweet taste and the easy access they provide in backyard settings. Possums enjoy various fruits, including berries, apples, and pears. They benefit from the natural sugars and liquid content found in grapes.
While grapes provide natural sugar and moisture, they are not an ideal primary food source in large quantities. Fruits should not exceed 20 percent of a possum’s diet in captivity. Grapes and raisins have been associated with kidney issues, so their intake should be limited. Excessive consumption of sugary fruits can lead to health problems like obesity and dental issues.
Understanding the Possum Diet
Possums are omnivores, meaning their diet naturally includes both plant and animal matter. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming a wide range of foods based on availability. Their digestive systems are robust, allowing them to process diverse food types. In their natural habitats, possums typically forage for leaves, fruits, nuts, insects, and small vertebrates. They also consume eggs, carrion, and other small animals.
The diet of possums adapts significantly when they live in urban and suburban areas. In these environments, they frequently scavenge for pet food left outdoors, discarded human food from garbage bins, and garden produce. This shift towards readily available, often calorie-dense foods can impact their overall health. Urban diets may differ considerably from their natural foraging patterns.
Keeping Possums Out of Your Garden
To humanely deter possums from your garden, several practical strategies can be implemented. Securing potential food sources is a primary step, including keeping garbage cans sealed with tight-fitting lids and avoiding leaving pet food bowls outside overnight. Promptly harvesting ripe fruits and vegetables from your garden can also reduce their appeal. Fallen fruit should be cleaned up regularly, as it provides an easy meal.
Physical barriers offer effective protection for plants and crops. Installing fencing around garden beds or using wildlife-friendly netting over fruit trees can prevent possums from accessing your produce. Tree collars or guards placed around the base of fruit trees can deter climbing. While various repellents are sometimes suggested, their effectiveness can vary, and they often require frequent reapplication. Combining these methods usually provides the most successful approach to managing possum visits.