Possums are adaptable marsupials with a remarkably diverse diet. Classified as opportunistic omnivores, they consume a wide array of food sources, allowing them to thrive in various environments by taking advantage of readily available sustenance.
Natural Foraging Habits
In their natural habitats, possums exhibit broad foraging behaviors, consuming a variety of items that change with seasons and local availability. Their diet commonly includes insects like crickets, mealworms, slugs, and snails, which provide essential protein and nutrients. They also regularly feed on fruits, berries, nuts, grains, and plant materials such as leaves and fungi.
Possums also incorporate small vertebrates into their diet, including rodents, birds, frogs, and reptiles, along with their eggs. Carrion, or dead animals, is another important food source, highlighting their role as natural scavengers. They require high amounts of calcium, which they obtain by consuming the skeletal remains of smaller animals. These nocturnal creatures primarily rely on their keen sense of smell to locate food during their nighttime foraging.
Adapting to Urban and Suburban Environments
The dietary habits of possums shift considerably when they inhabit urban and suburban areas, demonstrating their adaptability to human-modified landscapes. In these environments, they frequently scavenge for readily accessible food sources, often including items discarded or left out by humans.
A common food source in populated areas is pet food, such as dog and cat kibble, which possums are drawn to due to its concentrated protein and fat content. They also rummage through unsecured garbage cans for discarded human food and table scraps. Possums consume garden produce, including vegetables like tomatoes and pumpkins, and fallen fruits such as figs, peaches, plums, and apples. Compost bins containing kitchen scraps and fruit peels also provide an easy meal.
Foods That Are Harmful
Many common human foods are detrimental to possums and should be avoided. Chocolate and caffeine contain compounds toxic to possums, as they lack the necessary enzymes to metabolize them. Ingestion can lead to severe issues, including increased heart rate, tremors, seizures, and cardiac arrest.
Onions, garlic, and chives contain substances that can cause digestive distress and anemia by destroying red blood cells. Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness may result from consuming these items. Grapes and raisins are also dangerous, as they can induce kidney failure. Avocado is another toxic food that should be kept away from possums.
Dairy products are unsuitable for possums because they are largely lactose intolerant, which can lead to digestive upset and diarrhea. Cow’s milk is particularly harmful to baby possums. Highly processed sugary and salty foods, including sweets, provide no nutritional value and can cause obesity, dental problems, and nutritional deficiencies. Raw meat can transmit parasites, and citrus fruits’ high acidity can cause significant digestive problems.