{"id":15009,"date":"2026-07-22T16:31:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T16:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/?p=15009"},"modified":"2026-07-22T16:31:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T16:31:06","slug":"what-do-opossums-eat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/what-do-opossums-eat\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do Opossums Eat? 10 Common Foods in Their Diet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Opossums are adaptable omnivores that eat both plant and animal matter. Their menu changes according to the season, habitat, age, and available food. In the wild, they search for insects, worms, small animals, fruit, seeds, vegetation, and carrion. Around homes, they may also investigate compost, garbage, pet bowls, and fallen fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Virginia opossum is the species most commonly encountered in the United States and Canada. Its flexible diet allows it to survive in forests, wetlands, farmland, suburbs, and cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do Opossums Eat in the Wild?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wild opossums are opportunistic feeders rather than specialized hunters. They usually eat whatever nutritious food is easiest to find while traveling at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food category<\/strong><\/td>Examples<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Invertebrates<\/td>Beetles, crickets, worms, snails and slugs<\/td><\/tr>
Small animals<\/td>Mice, frogs, lizards and small snakes<\/td><\/tr>
Plant foods<\/td>Fruit, berries, seeds, grains and vegetation<\/td><\/tr>
Scavenged foods<\/td>Carrion, eggs and discarded food<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Their diet changes throughout the year. Warmer months generally provide more insects, fruit, seeds, and vegetation. During colder seasons, small vertebrates and carrion may become more important as insects and fresh plant foods become harder to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 Foods Opossums Like to Eat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"10<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Opossums are opportunistic omnivores that eat whatever nutritious food is available in their environment. Their diet includes insects, worms, small animals, fruits, seeds, vegetables, eggs, and carrion. The exact foods they choose depend on the season, habitat, and availability. The following ten foods are some of the most common items found in an opossum\u2019s natural diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Insects<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Insects are an important food source, especially during warm weather. Opossums may eat beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, cockroaches, and other insects found in soil or leaf litter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their strong sense of smell helps them locate insects beneath vegetation, fallen wood, and garden debris. Young opossums also begin hunting small insects after they become independent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Earthworms, Snails, and Slugs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Opossums frequently search damp soil for earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates. They may also eat snails and slugs found around gardens, streams, wetlands, and decaying vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These foods are easy for an opossum to capture and provide valuable animal protein. Their availability is often greatest after rainfall or during humid nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Mice and Other Small Mammals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although opossums are slow-moving scavengers, they can capture mice, rats, voles, and other small mammals when an opportunity arises. They may also eat animals that are already dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small vertebrates can become a more significant part of their diet during winter, when fruit and insects are less abundant. Opossums should not, however, be viewed as a complete solution to a household rodent problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Frogs, Lizards, and Snakes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Opossums sometimes eat frogs, salamanders, lizards, and small snakes. These foods are more readily available in wooded, wet, or warm habitats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virginia opossums have biological resistance to the venom of several pit vipers, but this does not mean they constantly hunt venomous snakes. Reptiles and amphibians are only one part of their broad diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Eggs and Small Birds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bird eggs and small birds may be eaten when an opossum discovers an accessible nest. It may also take an unprotected chick from a poorly secured poultry enclosure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy adult chickens are generally more difficult for an opossum to capture. Closing coops at night, using strong hardware cloth, and collecting eggs regularly can prevent most conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Carrion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As scavengers, opossums eat dead animals they encounter. Carrion can include roadkill, dead rodents, birds, fish, and other animal remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scavenging recycles nutrients and removes some decaying material from the environment. Unfortunately, feeding beside roads also places opossums at high risk of being struck by vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Fruits and Berries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Opossums enjoy many naturally occurring fruits, including persimmons, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, apples, and wild berries. They may climb trees or visit gardens to reach ripe fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallen fruit commonly attracts opossums to yards. Removing overripe fruit from the ground can discourage repeated nighttime visits without harming the animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Seeds, Grains, and Nuts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Seeds and grains provide energy, particularly during late summer and fall. Opossums may consume corn, birdseed, acorns, and other available seeds or nuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They sometimes visit the ground beneath bird feeders to collect spilled seed. Bringing feeders inside overnight or cleaning up spilled grain can make a yard less attractive to wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Vegetables and Plant Material<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Opossums may eat grasses, leaves, shoots, mushrooms, garden vegetables, and other plant material. However, they are not strict herbivores and need a varied diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A garden visit does not always mean the opossum caused the damage. Raccoons, rabbits, rodents, deer, slugs, and insects may produce similar signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Fish and Other Aquatic Foods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Opossums living near streams, ponds, or wetlands may consume fish, crayfish, amphibians, and other aquatic foods when they can capture or scavenge them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These foods are not equally important in every habitat. An urban opossum may rely more heavily on insects, fallen fruit, garbage, and pet food, while one near a wetland encounters more aquatic prey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do Opossums Eat in Your Yard?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An opossum visiting a yard may find both natural and human-provided foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common attractions include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Insects and earthworms<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Snails and slugs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Fallen fruit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Birdseed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Compost<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Unsecured garbage<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Outdoor pet food<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Poultry feed and eggs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Opossums are generally searching for an easy meal rather than trying to attack people or pets. Removing accessible food usually discourages them more effectively than attempting to trap them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bring pet bowls indoors before dark, secure garbage lids, clean beneath bird feeders, collect fallen fruit, and keep poultry feed in sealed containers. Intentionally feeding wild opossums can make them dependent on human properties and attract less desirable animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Do Opossums Eat in Winter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Opossums do not hibernate, so they must continue searching for food throughout winter. Cold conditions reduce the availability of insects, berries, and fresh vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Winter foods may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Carrion<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Small mammals<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Birdseed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Stored or remaining fruit<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Seeds and grains<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Garbage and pet food<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Foods found beneath leaves or logs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      They may remain sheltered during severe weather and emerge when temperatures become milder. Research summaries indicate that small vertebrates can form a larger portion of their diet during colder periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Do Opossums Eat Ticks?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Opossums may swallow an occasional tick while grooming, but the popular claim that each animal eats thousands of ticks should be treated cautiously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A 2021 study examined the stomach contents of 32 wild Virginia opossums and found no ticks or identifiable tick remains. Researchers therefore concluded that wild opossums probably do not consume enough ticks to function as major biological tick controllers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Opossums still have valuable ecological roles as scavengers, predators, prey animals, and seed dispersers. However, attracting them with food is not a reliable method for controlling ticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What Do Baby Opossums Eat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Newborn opossums are extremely undeveloped and crawl into their mother\u2019s pouch immediately after birth. They remain attached to a nipple and drink their mother\u2019s milk while continuing to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Older babies eventually leave the pouch, ride on their mother\u2019s back, and begin sampling natural solid foods before becoming independent. A baby found alone should not automatically be fed fruit, cat food, cow\u2019s milk, or homemade formula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A young opossum measuring less than about seven inches from nose to rump, excluding the tail, may need help when its mother is absent. Keep it warm and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator rather than attempting to feed it. Incorrect food, temperature, or feeding technique can be dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What Do Opossums Eat in Captivity?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Professionally managed opossums receive carefully balanced meals rather than a single favorite food. The Smithsonian reports feeding fish, meat, eggs, formulated pellets, fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A diet based only on fruit, pet food, or table scraps can be nutritionally unbalanced. Wild opossums should not be kept as pets, and injured or orphaned animals require guidance from a veterinarian or licensed wildlife rehabilitator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Do opossums eat cat food?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Opossums may eat cat food left outdoors because it is high in calories and easy to access. However, cat food is not a balanced long-term diet for an opossum. Bring pet bowls indoors at night to avoid attracting wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What fruits do opossums eat?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Opossums may eat persimmons, apples, grapes, blackberries, raspberries, and other ripe fruits. They frequently collect fruit that has fallen from trees. Availability varies according to habitat, climate, and season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Do opossums eat rats?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Opossums can eat young, injured, or easily captured rats and may scavenge dead ones. However, they are not specialized rat hunters and should not replace proper sanitation, exclusion, and professional rodent control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Do opossums eat vegetables?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Yes. Opossums may eat vegetables, grasses, leaves, shoots, and other vegetation. Plant matter is only one component of their omnivorous diet, which also includes insects, small animals, fruit, seeds, and carrion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Should you leave food out for an opossum?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Feeding wild opossums is generally unnecessary. Regular feeding can encourage repeat visits and attract rodents, raccoons, or other animals. It is better to let opossums find their natural food while keeping garbage and pet food secured.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Opossums are adaptable omnivores that eat both plant and animal matter. Their menu changes according to the season, habitat, age, and available food. In the wild, they search for insects, worms, small animals, fruit, seeds, vegetation, and carrion. Around homes, they may also investigate compost, garbage, pet bowls, and fallen fruit. The Virginia opossum is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15040,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opossums"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15009"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15039,"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15009\/revisions\/15039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spiderzoon.com\/animals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}