Possums, often seen as mysterious nocturnal visitors, frequently spark curiosity about their eating habits. A common question arises regarding whether these unique marsupials prey on squirrels, given their presence in similar environments. Understanding their diet reveals much about their role in various ecosystems.
The Simple Answer
Possums do not typically hunt and eat live, healthy squirrels. While they are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, squirrels are generally too agile and quick for a possum to catch. Possums run at about 3.5 miles per hour, making them significantly slower than an active squirrel. Their physical characteristics, including their non-aggressive nature, mean they are not well-suited for pursuing and capturing fast-moving prey like adult squirrels.
A possum might opportunistically consume a deceased squirrel if found as carrion. They may also prey on very young or vulnerable baby squirrels if a nest is accessible. Despite these instances, squirrels are not a regular part of a possum’s diet, and direct predation on live, mature squirrels is uncommon.
Understanding the Possum Diet
Possums are highly adaptable omnivores, consuming a wide variety of food sources. Their diet consists of insects, carrion (dead animals), fruits, vegetables, and grains. They are also known to eat eggs, frogs, small rodents like mice and rats, and even snakes. This broad diet allows them to thrive in diverse habitats, from woodlands to urban areas.
These marsupials are primarily scavengers, using their keen sense of smell to locate food, especially at night when they are most active. They play an important role as nature’s clean-up crew by consuming carrion, which helps prevent disease spread in ecosystems. In human-populated areas, they may forage for pet food left outdoors or rummage through garbage cans.
Debunking Common Misconceptions
The idea that possums eat squirrels likely stems from misunderstandings about their diet and behavior. Possums are nocturnal animals often seen scavenging near human dwellings, which can lead to misinterpretations of their predatory habits. Their appearance, including their elongated snout and numerous teeth, might lead some to mistakenly categorize them as more aggressive predators. While they possess 50 teeth—more than any other North American mammal—these are primarily for processing their varied diet, not for hunting agile prey.
Misconceptions also arise from the shared habitats of possums and squirrels. Both animals can be found in yards and wooded areas. Their natural defense mechanism of “playing possum,” where they involuntarily feign death when threatened, illustrates their tendency to avoid confrontation.