WHAT DO POSSUMS EAT ?

WHAT DO OPOSSUMS EAT

Opossums are among North America’s most misunderstood and underappreciated creatures. With their hairless tails, nocturnal habits, and habit of playing dead when threatened, these marsupials often find themselves the subject of urban legends, pest control concerns, and misguided fear. However, beyond the folklore lies a fascinating animal with a powerful role in our ecosystems—particularly when it comes to their diet.

What Do Opossums Eat? A Complete Guide to the Diet of Nature’s Nocturnal Forager is your in-depth exploration of the opossum’s diverse, adaptable, and surprisingly helpful eating habits. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, animal rehabber, backyard observer, or just a curious homeowner trying to figure out what’s rifling through your trash at 2 a.m., this book will offer insights backed by science, field observation, and practical expertise.

Opossums are omnivores with one of the broadest dietary ranges in the animal kingdom. They are not picky eaters—in fact, their scavenging instincts help clean up the environment by consuming decaying plant and animal matter. They eat fruits, insects, small vertebrates, grains, slugs, snails, roadkill, and yes, even leftovers in your garbage can. But there’s more to their diet than just being “opportunistic feeders.” Their menu reflects seasonal shifts, geographic availability, urbanization, and even their life stage.

In the wild, opossums serve as nature’s janitors, consuming carrion and rotting fruit that could otherwise spread disease. In suburban and urban environments, they play an essential role in pest control by dining on cockroaches, beetles, mice, and even venomous snakes. And yet, their presence is often considered a nuisance—usually by those who don’t realize just how beneficial their eating habits can be.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dig into the nuances of the opossum’s digestive system, which allows them to consume foods that would harm or kill many other animals. We’ll analyze their dietary preferences and examine how environmental pressures—from habitat destruction to climate change—affect their food choices. We’ll look at how opossums feed their young, what they require when kept in rehabilitation or captivity, and how to prevent them from becoming reliant on human food sources.

You’ll also learn to distinguish fact from fiction: Can opossums eat dog food? Should you ever feed a wild opossum? Do they carry diseases from eating garbage? Do they hunt live animals? Is roadkill their favorite food or simply a result of bad timing on busy roads?

By the end of this book, you will have a thorough understanding of what fuels one of North America's most resilient survivors. More importantly, you’ll see the opossum not as a pest, but as an ecologically vital creature whose diet provides immense benefits to our shared environment.

Would you like me to begin with Chapter 1: Introduction to Opossums and Their Ecological Role?


The Digestive System of Opossums: Built for Variety

Opossums possess one of the most adaptable digestive systems in the animal kingdom. As marsupials with omnivorous tendencies, their internal biology is specially tailored for a scavenger lifestyle. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), the most common species in North America, exemplifies the digestive prowess necessary to consume a vast array of foods—from fresh fruit to decaying meat.

Anatomy of the Opossum Digestive System

  • Mouth and Teeth: With 50 teeth—more than any other North American mammal—opossums are equipped to chew tough materials. Their sharp incisors can puncture flesh, while flat molars allow them to grind fibrous plant matter.

  • Stomach: The opossum’s stomach is simple, yet flexible. It breaks down both animal protein and plant cellulose efficiently.

  • Small and Large Intestines: The small intestine handles most nutrient absorption, while the large intestine ferments plant material and assists in water reabsorption.

Tolerance to Toxins and Spoiled Foods

One of the most unique aspects of the opossum’s diet is its ability to consume food that would sicken most other mammals. Their slow metabolic rate and strong immune system help them tolerate:

  • Moldy or fermented fruits

  • Roadkill and other decomposing flesh

  • Venomous animals like snakes (immune to many snake venoms)

Gut Microbiome

Recent research has shown that opossums have a robust and diverse gut microbiome, which helps break down complex food substances. This allows them to:

  • Thrive in multiple environments

  • Handle dietary shifts without illness

  • Reduce harmful bacteria through competitive colonization

What Opossums Eat in the Wild: A Natural Forager's Menu

In their natural habitats—woods, swamps, grasslands—opossums thrive by foraging a wide range of food. Their diet in the wild includes:

Plant-Based Diet

  • Fruits: Persimmons, apples, blackberries, grapes, and pawpaws

  • Vegetation: Tender shoots, grasses, leaves

  • Seeds and Nuts: Occasionally consumed, though harder to digest

Animal-Based Sources

  • Insects: Beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and cockroaches

  • Small Vertebrates: Frogs, toads, lizards, and occasionally small rodents

  • Eggs and Hatchlings: Ground nests of birds and reptiles are often raided

Scavenging Behavior

  • Carrion: Opossums clean up dead animals, reducing disease risk in ecosystems

  • Leftovers from predators: They follow the trail of bigger carnivores for scraps

Wild opossums eat based on what’s seasonally available. In spring and summer, they prioritize fruit and insects. In fall, they increase fat reserves with protein and high-calorie foods. In winter, they rely heavily on carrion or human-generated sources when natural food is scarce.

Urban Diets: What Opossums Eat in Cities and Suburbs

As natural habitats shrink, opossums have adapted to city life. They are frequent visitors to urban areas, particularly at night. Common urban food sources include:

Accessible Foods

  • Garbage: Food scraps, fast food waste, pet food, and spoiled produce

  • Compost Bins: Decomposing fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds

  • Pet Food: Opossums often eat cat or dog food left outside

Opportunistic Hunting

  • Rats and mice: Urban opossums occasionally prey on rodents

  • Insects: Roaches and beetles in urban sewers and alleys

  • Bird Feeders: Fallen seeds and spilled grains

While city life provides abundant food, it comes with risks:

  • Exposure to pesticides and spoiled food

  • Increased vehicle collisions

  • Reliance on low-nutrient human garbage

Despite this, opossums help urban ecosystems by reducing pests like cockroaches and rats.

 

Seasonal Changes in Diet: Winter vs. Summer Nutrition

An opossum’s diet varies significantly with the seasons due to food availability and caloric needs.

Spring and Summer

  • Abundance: Insects, fruits, and vegetation flourish

  • Preferred Foods: Berries, crickets, frogs, and fresh roadkill

  • Breeding Season: Female opossums need high-protein diets for milk production

Fall

  • Fat Storage: Opossums increase intake of high-fat foods like eggs and meat

  • Foraging Hours Extend: Longer active periods to prepare for lean months

Winter

  • Scarcity: With insects dormant and plants bare, opossums scavenge heavily

  • Garbage Dependence: Urban opossums rely more on trash and pet food

  • Carrion: Frozen roadkill is a key winter staple

Despite lacking hibernation, opossums reduce activity in extreme cold and seek high-energy meals to survive.

Baby Opossums and Their Nutritional Needs

Infant and juvenile opossums require specialized diets for growth and survival.

Maternal Milk

  • Pouch Life: Newborns stay in the mother’s pouch for 2 months

  • Milk Composition: High in protein, fat, and calcium for bone and muscle development

Transitioning to Solid Food

  • Weaning Stage: Begins around 8–10 weeks

  • First Foods: Mashed fruit, insects, soft vegetables

  • Insect Intake: Provides key amino acids and iron

Juvenile Independence

  • Exploration: Young opossums ride on the mother’s back and observe foraging

  • Learning Curve: Trial-and-error learning of safe vs. toxic foods

  • Captive Feeding Tips:

    • Soft fruits (bananas, apples)

    • Boiled eggs, mealworms

    • Avoid dairy and processed food

Raising orphaned opossums requires a strict, balanced feeding regimen and transition plan for proper development.

The Scavenger Instinct: Carrion and Roadkill Explained

One of the opossum’s defining dietary traits is its consumption of dead animals. While unpleasant to humans, this role is vital for environmental health.

Why Opossums Eat Carrion

  • Scavenging Advantage: Reduces energy spent hunting

  • Digestive Tolerance: Can digest meat in various decomposition stages

  • Competition: Few animals compete for carrion, especially in winter

Risks of Scavenging

  • Vehicle Fatalities: Feeding on roadkill often leads to accidents

  • Diseases: Though immune to many pathogens, they can still ingest parasites

  • Poisoning: Carrion exposed to chemicals or spoiled foods may be lethal

Ecological Importance

  • Nature’s Clean-Up Crew: Helps prevent the spread of disease

  • Supports Biodiversity: Aids decomposition and nutrient cycling

  • Reduces Pest Populations: Feeds on dead rats, mice, and other animals

 Fruits and Vegetables: Nature’s Candy for Opossums

Opossums enjoy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, which provide hydration, vitamins, and fiber.

Common Fruits

  • Apples

  • Grapes

  • Bananas

  • Berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)

  • Melons

Vegetables They Eat

  • Corn (fresh or cooked)

  • Carrots

  • Leafy greens (spinach, lettuce)

  • Squash

  • Sweet potatoes

Wild Produce

  • Persimmons

  • Wild grapes

  • Mushrooms (non-toxic types)

Benefits of Produce in Diet

  • Hydration during hot seasons

  • Fiber for digestion

  • Nutrients for healthy fur and skin

Caution should be used with fruit peels and seeds (like apple seeds), which may pose toxicity risks in large amounts.

Insects, Small Animals, and Protein Sources

While not predators by nature, opossums are opportunistic carnivores.

Common Animal-Based Foods

  • Insects: Beetles, ants, termites, grasshoppers

  • Arachnids: Spiders, scorpions

  • Amphibians: Frogs, salamanders

  • Reptiles: Small lizards and snakes

Hunting Behavior

  • Slow but persistent stalkers

  • Use scent to locate prey

  • Eat what they can catch or find dead

Protein Needs

  • Especially high in juveniles and nursing mothers

  • Supports tissue repair and immune function

  • Animal protein is more bioavailable than plant-based protein

Human Food and Garbage: A Dangerous Attraction

The downside of opossum adaptability is their vulnerability to human trash.

What They Scavenge

  • Fast food scraps

  • Rotten fruit and vegetables

  • Bones, greasy wrappers, and packaging

  • Pet food left outside

Risks of Human Food

  • Low nutritional value

  • Processed ingredients and salt

  • Bones can splinter and cause injury

  • May develop dependency on human-provided sources

Responsible Waste Management

  • Secure trash cans

  • Don’t leave pet food out overnight

  • Compost safely or use sealed bins

Feeding wild opossums is discouraged, as it promotes dependency and disrupts natural behaviors.

Feeding Opossums in Captivity: What’s Safe and What’s Not

In wildlife rehabilitation centers, zoos, or as short-term rescues, feeding opossums requires careful planning.

Ideal Diet in Captivity

  • Fruits: Chopped apples, bananas, grapes

  • Vegetables: Cooked sweet potatoes, leafy greens

  • Protein: Boiled eggs, insects (mealworms, crickets), cooked chicken

  • Calcium: Eggshells ground into powder, special supplements

Foods to Avoid

  • Dairy products (opossums are lactose intolerant)

  • Processed human food (chips, bread, candy)

  • Raw onions and garlic (toxic in excess)

  • Caffeine and chocolate

Feeding Schedule

  • 1–2 times per day

  • Water should always be available

  • Offer food in small, rotating portions to avoid overfeeding

Proper nutrition promotes recovery and prepares them for re-release, where they’ll need strong instincts and health to thrive.


 

All About Animals …

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  • RATS

  • SQUIRRELS

  • RACCOONS

  • OPOSSUMS

  • SNAKES

  • BATS

  • WILDLIFE REMOVAL