Possum Diet: What Do They Eat?

Opossums, also known as possums, are fascinating creatures that belong to the marsupial family. They are adaptable and will live wherever food, water, and shelter exist. Opossums are both scavengers and omnivores, meaning they eat a diverse range of foods. So, what does a possum eat?

Opossums are scavengers and omnivores

Opossums, also known as possums, are fascinating creatures that belong to the marsupial family. There are more than 60 species of opossum, the only species found in North America being the Virginia opossum. Despite often being viewed as dirty scavengers, opossums have several positive features. For instance, opossums have a remarkable ability to find food and then remember where it is located. They have scored higher than rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs in their ability to recall where food was placed in laboratory tests.

The diet of an opossum consists mainly of insects, worms, carrion (dead animals), reptiles, amphibians, birds and their eggs, crustaceans, berries, fruits, and small mammals. They also eat rodents, cockroaches, ticks, snails, and slugs, making them excellent natural pest controllers. They are also known for their role in seed dispersal and significantly contribute to cleaning ecosystems by consuming carrion, which helps prevent the spread of disease.

Captive opossums should follow an omnivorous diet and eat vegetables, fruit (which should not exceed 20 percent of their diet), and protein once or twice a week. Baby opossums drink their mother's milk, but if that is not available in captivity, they can be fed a powdered milk formula. It is important to note that possums are lactose intolerant, so cow's milk is not suitable for orphaned baby possums.

It is worth noting that opossums have a need for high amounts of calcium in their diet. They also have an extremely low metabolism, so their caloric needs are easily met.

They eat insects, rodents, birds, and eggs

Opossums, also known as possums, are fascinating creatures that belong to the marsupial family. They are adaptable and will live wherever food, water, and shelter exist. They are both scavengers and omnivores, feeding primarily at night. Their diet consists of insects, rodents, birds, and eggs, as well as other food sources.

Opossums eat a diverse range of insects, including crickets and beetles. They also feed on rodents such as mice and voles, helping to control the rodent population. Additionally, opossums consume birds and their eggs, contributing to their food sources.

Opossums have a remarkable ability to find food and remember its location, often returning to the same sources. They are known to scavenge in garbage cans and eat human food scraps, dog food, and cat food. In laboratory tests, they scored higher than rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs in recalling food placement.

In addition to insects, rodents, birds, and eggs, opossums also consume small animals, carrion (dead animals), and roadkill. They have been observed eating the skeletal remains of rodents and other small creatures. Opossums are built for scavenging and will eat practically any food source they can find, including pet food and leftovers.

Captive opossums should be fed an omnivorous diet, including vegetables, fruit, and protein. Baby opossums drink their mother's milk, but in captivity, they can be fed powdered milk formula. It is important to note that possums are lactose intolerant, so cow's milk is not suitable for orphaned joeys.

They also eat plants, fruits, and vegetables

Opossums, also known as possums, are fascinating creatures that belong to the marsupial family. They are adaptable and will live wherever food, water, and shelter exist. They are both scavengers and omnivores, feeding mainly at night. They have a keen sense of smell that helps them find food. Opossums will eat practically any food source they can find, including human food scraps, dog food, and cat food. They also eat plants, fruits, and vegetables.

Opossums living in rural areas rely more on natural resources like plants and small creatures. They eat the leaves of eucalyptus, green plum, acacia, and red bush apple trees. Possums have a low metabolism, so their calorie needs are easily met with simple plants. Fruits provide an easy source of energy, but they can make up only about 20% of their diet as possums can easily become overweight.

In addition to plants and fruits, possums also eat vegetables. However, they should only be consumed in relatively small quantities, similar to fruits. Possums can be lactose intolerant, so cow milk is not suitable for them. Instead, baby possums drink their mother's milk or a specialised formula.

Possums play an important role in seed dispersal and contribute to cleaning ecosystems by consuming carrion, which helps prevent the spread of disease. They also act as natural pest controllers by feeding on rodents, cockroaches, ticks, snails, and slugs.

Opossums living in urban areas may eat human food scraps

Opossums, or possums, are fascinating creatures that belong to the marsupial family. They are adaptable and will live wherever food, water, and shelter exist. They are commonly found in residential areas, making their homes in backyards and under sheds.

Opossums are known for their scavenging abilities and will eat practically any food source they can find. They have a keen sense of smell and hearing, which helps them locate food, and they are mostly active at night, constantly moving in search of something to eat. Their diet consists mainly of insects, worms, carrion (dead animals), reptiles, amphibians, birds and their eggs, crustaceans, berries, fruits, and small mammals.

Opossums living in urban areas may scavenge human food scraps, while those in rural settings rely more on natural resources like plants and small creatures. This means that opossums in cities and towns may rummage through garbage cans and eat from plates left outside. They are known to consume dog and cat food, as well as table scraps.

It is important to note that opossums should not be fed certain human foods, as these can be detrimental to their health. For example, sweets, junk food, and raw meat can be harmful to opossums. Opossums are also lactose intolerant and should not be fed milk or other dairy products.

Opossums require a high amount of calcium in their diet

Opossums are omnivores with a varied diet. They are scavengers and will eat practically any food source they can find, including insects, rodents, dead animals, and plants. They are also known to eat human food scraps, pet food, and leftovers.

The desired calcium to phosphorus ratio in the opossum diet is 1.5:1. Opossums should consume a balanced diet that includes a variety of food sources to ensure they get enough calcium. For example, they can eat the skeletal remains of rodents and other roadkill animals, which provide both calcium and phosphorus.

It is important to note that too much calcium can also be harmful to opossums. Calcium supplements should generally be avoided as they can cause hypercalcemia and complicate MBD. Instead, opossums should receive calcium from their diet, such as by consuming whole prey, which includes bones.

Vitamin D is also important for opossums as it aids in calcium metabolism. As nocturnal animals, they receive some exposure to sunlight while sleeping during the day, but they also obtain Vitamin D from their diet.

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