The Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico, and it is the species most commonly referred to simply as “possum” throughout North America. These adaptable creatures are classified as opportunistic omnivores, meaning they consume a wide variety of both plant and animal matter depending on what is available in their environment. This flexibility in diet allows them to thrive in diverse habitats, ranging from forests and wetlands to suburban and urban areas. Their success as scavengers directly influences their dietary needs and interactions with human environments.
The Natural Foraging Diet
In the wild, the opossum’s diet is diverse, reflecting its role as a generalist scavenger and predator. A large portion of their consumption consists of animal matter, including insects, grubs, snails, and other invertebrates they find while foraging on the ground. They also consume small vertebrates like mice and frogs. Opossums are known to eat venomous snakes, to which they have a natural resistance due to a protein in their blood that neutralizes the venom.
The opossum frequently consumes carrion (dead animal matter). Eating the entire carcass, including the bones, helps meet their high requirement for calcium. Plant-based foods are also included in their natural diet, such as wild fruits like persimmons and berries, along with nuts, grains, and roots. Their constant need to forage for food is driven by a very low body fat percentage, meaning they cannot store energy for long periods and must eat year-round.
Safe Foods for Temporary Supplemental Feeding
When providing temporary supplemental food, the focus must be on replicating the necessary balance of nutrients, particularly high calcium intake. Safe and beneficial foods include cooked lean proteins, such as scrambled or hard-boiled eggs, or cooked chicken without any seasoning. These should be offered in moderation to prevent nutritional imbalances.
Specific vegetables and low-sugar fruits are also acceptable. Leafy greens are excellent choices due to their high calcium content.
Safe options include:
- Kale
- Collard greens
- Cabbage
- Apple pieces
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots
High-quality, nutritionally complete dry cat or dog kibble can serve as a base, as it provides a concentrated source of protein and other nutrients. Supplemental feeding should only constitute a small part of their overall intake, encouraging them to continue their natural foraging behaviors.
Hazardous and Unsuitable Foods to Avoid
A major hazard for opossums fed an improper diet is the development of Nutritional Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), which results from a severe dietary imbalance. This condition is primarily caused by a diet with an incorrect calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio. Opossums require a Ca:P ratio of approximately 1.5:1, but many common human foods have too much phosphorus and not enough calcium.
Feeding excessive amounts of meat without the bone is particularly dangerous, as lean muscle is very high in phosphorus and low in calcium, actively depleting the body’s calcium reserves. Dairy products, such as milk or cheese, should be avoided because they are high in phosphorus and can cause digestive upset due to the opossum’s lactose intolerance.
Other human foods that must be strictly avoided include:
- Chocolate and caffeine, which are toxic to most animals.
- High-sugar processed foods.
- Bread that offers no nutritional benefit and can lead to obesity and illness.