Possums are common nocturnal marsupials found across diverse habitats, from forests to urban areas. These adaptable creatures are recognized for their opportunistic omnivorous diet, a characteristic that plays a significant role in their survival. Understanding what possums naturally consume, what attracts them to human environments, and which foods are harmful is important for human-wildlife coexistence.
The Possum’s Natural Diet
Possums exhibit a broad and varied diet. Their food choices often depend on seasonal availability and the specific habitat they inhabit. A significant portion of their diet consists of plant matter, including various leaves, fruits such as berries, apples, and persimmons, as well as nuts, seeds, fungi, and bark. They also consume grasses and other readily available vegetation.
Beyond plant material, possums forage for animal-based foods. This includes insects like beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and cockroaches, along with snails and slugs. They also prey on small vertebrates such as rodents, frogs, lizards, and birds, including their eggs and nestlings. Carrion forms another important part of their natural diet. Possums require calcium, which they can obtain from consuming skeletal remains.
Foods That Attract Possums to Human Areas
Possums are frequently drawn into human-populated areas due to easy food availability. Their keen sense of smell helps them locate accessible meals. Common attractants include pet food left outdoors. Fallen fruits from garden trees and garden vegetables also entice possums.
Unsecured garbage cans and compost piles serve as significant draws for these scavengers. Birdseed from feeders can also attract possums. While these human-provided foods offer calories, a diet heavily reliant on them can lead to nutritional imbalances, obesity, and dental problems, contributing to shorter lifespans.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Possums
Certain foods commonly found in human homes are detrimental or toxic to possums and should never be offered. Chocolate and caffeine contain toxic compounds, causing severe health problems. Onions and garlic contain thiosulphates, which can cause hemolytic anemia, resulting in lethargy and weakness.
Processed human foods, characterized by high levels of salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, offer poor nutritional value. They can lead to obesity, dental issues, and organ damage. Excessive salt can also cause dehydration and kidney failure. Dairy products are problematic because possums are largely lactose intolerant, causing digestive upset and discomfort. Even small amounts of these unsuitable foods can harm a possum’s health.
Specific Foods to Avoid
- Avocado, which contains persin, can be harmful.
- Bread and sugary sweets are difficult for their digestive systems to process and can lead to metabolic imbalances.
- Cooked bones pose a splintering hazard.
- Raw meat carries a risk of bacterial contamination from pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli.
- Green potatoes contain solanine, a toxic alkaloid.