Possums are highly adaptable marsupials found across North America. The Virginia opossum, the only marsupial native to this continent, thrives in diverse environments. Their success is largely attributed to their omnivorous diet, which allows them to consume a wide array of food sources. This dietary flexibility enables them to adjust to changing conditions and available resources.
Possums’ Natural Diet
In their natural habitats, possums consume a varied diet that reflects their opportunistic feeding strategies. Insects form a significant part of their meals, with common choices including beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, slugs, and snails. These invertebrates provide essential protein and nutrients.
Possums also prey on small vertebrates, such as mice, rats, voles, frogs, and birds, including their eggs. They display a notable resistance to many types of snake venom, enabling them to safely consume these reptiles. Carrion, or dead animals, is a dietary staple, with possums frequently scavenging roadkill and other deceased creatures.
Plant-based foods complement their animal diet, especially during certain seasons. Possums eat fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, and even some grasses and leaves. They often prefer fruits that have fallen and begun to rot, such as apples and persimmons. Their diet varies seasonally, with more animal matter consumed in warmer months and more plant matter in colder seasons.
Urban Foraging and Opportunistic Foods
When possums live near human populations, their diet adapts to readily available urban food sources. They frequently scavenge through trash cans, seeking discarded food scraps. This behavior is common due to their opportunistic nature and keen sense of smell, which guides them to potential meals.
Pet food left outdoors, particularly cat and dog food, becomes a significant part of their diet in residential areas. Possums are drawn to gardens where they might consume vegetables and fallen fruits. Birdseed from feeders also attracts them, adding another calorie source to their urban menu. This adaptability can lead to conflicts with homeowners.
What Not to Feed Possums
While possums are not picky eaters, certain human foods can be harmful to their health. Sugary snacks, processed foods, and large amounts of bread offer little nutritional value and can lead to health problems. Dairy products are also unsuitable for possums.
Chocolate and avocado pits are toxic to many animals and should never be given to them. Discourage possums from relying on human food sources. Securing trash cans, bringing pet food indoors at night, and picking up fallen fruit helps prevent unhealthy dependencies.
Ecological Contributions of Their Diet
Possums contribute positively to their ecosystems through their varied diet. By consuming insects, slugs, and snails, they assist in natural pest control. Their scavenging of carrion helps clean up the environment and reduces disease spread.
When possums eat fruits and berries, they disperse seeds through their droppings, aiding plant propagation. This role helps maintain plant diversity and supports ecosystem health. Their broad diet allows them to fill various ecological niches.