The North American Opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. It is a highly adaptable, opportunistic omnivore often seen in suburban gardens. While its presence may suggest a fruit pest, its diet changes depending on what is available seasonally. Understanding the opossum’s broader diet helps explain why garden fruit might attract its attention, even though plant matter is only a component of its overall food intake.
Defining the Opossum’s Omnivorous Diet
The opossum’s diet is varied, with fruit making up only a small percentage of its foraging activity. It consumes a wide range of animal matter, including insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, which often make up the bulk of its food. They also feed on snails, slugs, earthworms, small rodents, reptiles, and amphibians.
They are accomplished scavengers, readily consuming carrion and eggs. In human-altered environments, their opportunistic nature leads them to consume pet food, bird seeds, and human food scraps found in garbage. Plant material consumption increases in the late summer and autumn when those items are naturally more abundant.
Specific Fruits That Attract Opossums
Opossums are primarily drawn to fruits that are soft, easily accessible, and high in sugar content. Consistent with their scavenging nature, they prefer fruit that has already fallen to the ground and is overripe or partially rotted. This makes them less likely to climb high into a tree to pick firm, developing fruit.
Berries are a favorite, including strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and grapes, which provide a sweet and soft meal. Fallen tree fruits like apples, pears, and plums also attract opossums, especially once they are bruised or soft from hitting the ground. They also seek out native fruits and nuts, such as soft persimmons, when available.
Protecting Your Garden From Fruit Consumption
Protecting garden fruit requires eliminating easy access points and removing attractants. Consistently clean up any fallen or overly ripe fruit from the ground beneath trees and bushes. Since opossums are nocturnal, they are most likely to forage for these scraps overnight.
Physical barriers offer the most reliable protection for vulnerable plants and trees. For fruit bushes, use wildlife-safe netting with a mesh size of 5mm or less to prevent the animal from getting tangled. Smooth plastic or metal sheeting, often called tree guards, can be wrapped around the trunk of a fruit tree to prevent climbing. Securing other food sources, such as pet food left outdoors and garbage cans, will reduce the likelihood that opossums are drawn to the area.