Possums are adaptable, opportunistic eaters, thriving in diverse environments. Understanding their diet provides insight into their ecological role and interaction with both natural and human-dominated landscapes. These marsupials consume a wide range of food sources depending on availability and season.
The Natural Diet of Possums
In their natural habitats, Virginia opossums, common across North America, maintain a highly omnivorous diet. They consume various plant matter, including fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, leaves, roots, grains, and grasses. This plant-based intake provides essential carbohydrates and fiber for their energy needs.
Beyond vegetation, possums forage for invertebrates such as beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, snails, slugs, worms, and crayfish. They also prey on small vertebrates like mice, rats, voles, birds, eggs, frogs, snakes, lizards, and fish. A notable adaptation is their resistance to the venom of many snakes, allowing them to safely consume these reptiles.
Possums also serve as nature’s cleanup crew, frequently consuming carrion. This scavenging behavior is an important part of their diet, especially when other food sources are scarce. Their flexible feeding strategy ensures they can find sustenance across different seasons and ecosystems.
Possums in Human Environments
When possums live near human populations, their diet shifts to incorporate readily available food sources in suburban and urban settings. They often raid gardens for produce, including fruits, vegetables, corn, and berries. This access to cultivated plants supplements their natural foraging.
Pet food left outdoors is another common food source for possums. They consume dog and cat food, which provides an easy and calorie-rich meal. Unsecured garbage cans and compost piles also become foraging grounds, offering a diverse array of discarded human food scraps.
Bird feeders, filled with seeds, nuts, and suet, attract possums seeking an accessible meal. Roadkill also becomes a more frequent dietary staple in areas with human activity and vehicle traffic. These opportunistic adaptations allow possums to thrive alongside human development.
Foods to Never Offer Possums
Certain foods are detrimental to possums’ health and should never be offered. Processed human foods, such as sugary snacks, salty items, bread, and dairy products, can cause significant digestive issues for these animals. Their digestive systems are not equipped to handle such ingredients.
Avocado contains a compound called persin, which can be toxic to some animals and should be avoided for possums. Offering large quantities of any single food type can lead to nutritional imbalances and deficiencies. This lack of dietary variety can result in serious health problems, including obesity and organ issues.