If you've ever watched a possum scurry through your yard or across the road at night, you might wonder what do possums eat and whether they pose any risk to your garden or pets. Possums are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, insects, small animals, and even leftovers from human trash. Their flexible diet is one reason they can thrive in various environments.
You might spot a possum nibbling on fallen fruit, digging for grubs, or salvaging scraps from compost bins. They play a beneficial role by consuming pests such as beetles, snails, and even small rodents. Knowing what do possums eat can help you better understand their behavior and the impact they have on your local ecosystem.
Wild possums are adaptable eaters with low dietary specialization, allowing them to thrive in diverse environments. Their feeding habits are influenced by the availability of food, season, and their nutritional needs.
Possums are omnivorous, so what do possums eat in the wild? Their natural diet includes insects, small animals, fruit, flowers, leaves, and seeds.
You might regularly see them foraging on the forest floor or climbing trees at night for bird eggs, snails, beetles, and moths. They also eat small vertebrates, such as frogs or rodents, when they are accessible. In some regions, eucalyptus leaves, berries, and soft bark make up a considerable portion of what do possums eat.
The following table shows examples of wild possum food sources:
| Food Type | Examples |
| Insects/Animals | Beetles, snails, moths, frogs, baby birds |
| Plant Material | Leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, bark |
| Bird/Eggs | Bird eggs, occasionally nestlings |
Although possums are opportunistic feeders, they typically seek foods that provide essential fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals.
Young leaves, fruits, and flowers often make up the bulk of what do possums eat due to their nutrient content and available moisture. Possums may favor high-energy foods, such as ripe fruit, during periods of scarcity or before breeding. They consume animal prey to supplement their protein and calcium intake, especially females during lactation.
Possums' physiological needs also drive them to choose foods with specific micronutrients not found in all plants. They avoid toxic or hard-to-digest vegetation, using their sense of smell and taste to make these decisions. Their varied diet ensures they remain healthy in changing wild conditions.
Possums living near people adapt their diets to the available resources, often consuming items not found in their natural habitats. Their choices and habits can affect both their health and your property.
In urban and suburban areas, possums are opportunistic and will eat a wide variety of foods. They are commonly seen rummaging through garbage cans, compost bins, and pet food left outside. You may also find them feeding on fruits, vegetables, bread, and other table scraps.
Common human foods possums eat:
In addition to your waste, possums may raid gardens for tomatoes, berries, or corn. Bird feeders can attract possums as they often eat seeds and suet as well.
Regular consumption of human food can pose several risks to possums. Most processed foods, fatty items, and sugary snacks can lead to nutritional imbalances, dental problems, and digestive issues in these animals.
Possums that frequently visit your trash or outdoor pet bowls might lose their natural wariness, increasing chances of vehicle collisions or conflict with pets. Spoiled food, plastic wrappers, or sharp bones in garbage can cause injury or lead to disease.
A diet too dependent on human food can reduce the possum’s ability to forage naturally, leaving them reliant on unpredictable sources. Managing your waste and securing food sources helps protect possums from these hazards and encourages healthier feeding behavior.
If you notice overturned trash cans, missing pet food, or scattered fruit in your yard, you might have opossums visiting your property. These animals are opportunistic feeders and will consume a wide range of foods. Signs of their presence often include tracks, droppings, or damaged plants.
Common opossum foods on your property may include:
| Food Source | Risk Level |
| Trash | High |
| Outdoor pet food | High |
| Compost bins | Moderate |
| Fruit trees | Moderate |
| Gardens | Low |
Opossums eat almost anything. If you regularly leave food or waste accessible, your property could attract them. Their diet includes insects, snails, eggs, fruit, grains, and even small animals.
Keep in mind that opossums searching for food do not usually pose a threat, but they can sometimes cause property damage. To prevent issues, it's best to secure food sources and maintain cleanliness on a regular basis.
If you're finding evidence of opossums or other wildlife on your property, consider reaching out to Critter Stop at (214) 234-2616 for a free inspection. Critter Stop is recognized for its attentive service and thorough work, with many customers praising the professionalism and expertise of its staff in humane wildlife removal.
Possums have a varied diet, consuming a range of foods that includes fruits, grains, small animals, and insects. Their food choices can shift with the seasons and the availability of resources.
During winter, you may notice possums foraging for high-calorie foods such as insects, small rodents, slugs, eggs, and carrion. As plant matter becomes less available, they rely more on animal-based protein to meet their energy needs. They might also scavenge from garbage bins or pet food left outdoors.
You will often see possums eating a range of fruits, including apples, bananas, berries, grapes, and pears. They prefer ripe, soft, or fallen fruit and may visit gardens or orchards to forage. These provide essential vitamins and hydration, especially during warmer months.
Yes, rodents can be part of what possums eat, especially when other protein sources are scarce. Possums are opportunistic feeders and will catch and consume small mice or rats if given the chance. However, plant matter and insects make up a larger portion of their diet.
It is generally safe for possums to eat small amounts of cat food, particularly those high in protein and low in artificial additives. However, feeding possums cat food regularly is not recommended because it lacks the variety and nutrients found in their natural diet. Overreliance on cat food can also attract other wildlife and create dependency.
Possums are not primary predators of poultry, but they may attack chickens if other food sources are inaccessible. Their primary interest is usually in eggs, chicks, or leftover feed, rather than in healthy adult birds. Proper coop security helps reduce the risk of possum encounters with poultry.
In the wild, possums commonly eat insects, berries, fruits, leaves, small animals, slugs, and carrion. They have a highly adaptable diet that changes based on what is available in their habitat. This enables them to thrive in diverse environments, ranging from woodlands to urban areas.
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