Key Takeaways
- Possums are true omnivores that eat insects, fruit, small animals, carrion, and human garbage.
- Their diet actually benefits homeowners by reducing tick, cockroach, and rodent populations.
- Pet food, unsecured trash cans, and fallen fruit are the top attractants that bring possums to your yard.
- Understanding what possums eat helps you remove food sources and discourage them from settling near your home.
- Possums rarely carry rabies, but they can still cause property damage and create unsanitary conditions.
If you’ve spotted a gray, rat-tailed creature rummaging through your trash at night, you’re probably wondering what do possums eat — and why they chose your property as their personal buffet. The Virginia opossum, North America’s only marsupial, is one of the most adaptable feeders in the animal kingdom. It will consume nearly anything it can find, from ticks and insects to ripe fruit and table scraps. That flexible palate is exactly what draws possums into residential neighborhoods. In this guide, you’ll learn every major food group in the opossum diet, why these animals target your yard, and practical steps to cut off the food sources that keep them coming back.
What Do Possums Eat in the Wild?
Possums are opportunistic omnivores. That means they don’t specialize in any single food type. Instead, they eat whatever is available, and their menu shifts with the seasons. In spring and summer, insects make up the bulk of their diet. During fall and winter, they rely more heavily on fruit, nuts, and scavenged carrion.
This dietary flexibility is a survival advantage. Possums don’t hibernate, so they need reliable food year-round. Their willingness to eat almost anything keeps them alive through lean months when other wildlife struggles.
Insects and Invertebrates
Insects are a dietary staple for possums. They actively hunt beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, and snails. One of the most notable benefits is their appetite for ticks. A single opossum can consume up to 5,000 ticks per season, making them a natural form of pest control.
They also eat slugs, earthworms, and other invertebrates found in leaf litter. This protein-rich diet fuels their nocturnal foraging habits.
Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts
Possums love ripe and overripe fruit. Apples, berries, persimmons, and grapes are favorites. They also eat wild mushrooms, grains, and nuts when they find them on the ground. In residential areas, vegetable gardens and fruit trees become prime targets.
Small Animals and Eggs
Possums are not skilled hunters, but they will eat small rodents, frogs, birds, and eggs when the opportunity arises. They raid ground-nesting bird sites and occasionally catch mice or voles. However, they prefer easier meals — scavenging takes far less energy than hunting.
Carrion and Roadkill
Dead animals are a significant part of the opossum diet. Possums frequently scavenge roadkill and other carrion. This habit actually benefits the environment by helping to clean up decaying matter. Unfortunately, it also puts possums at risk of being hit by vehicles themselves.
What Do Possums Eat Around Your Home?
In residential settings, possums exploit human-created food sources. These are often easier to access and more calorie-dense than anything they’d find in the wild. If you’re seeing possums regularly, chances are your property offers something on the following list.
Pet Food Left Outdoors
Leaving dog or cat food outside overnight is one of the fastest ways to attract possums. Dry kibble and wet food are both irresistible to them. If you feed pets on a porch or patio, bring the bowls inside before dusk.
Garbage and Compost Bins
Unsecured garbage cans are an opossum gold mine. Meat scraps, fruit peels, bread, and dairy products all draw them in. Compost piles are equally attractive, especially if you add food waste without covering it properly. Similar to how raccoons raid trash cans and cause property damage, possums will tear through bags and scatter debris across your yard.
Fallen Fruit and Garden Produce
Fruit trees that drop unpicked produce create a nightly feast for possums. Tomato plants, strawberry patches, and melon vines are also vulnerable. Regularly harvesting your garden and cleaning up fallen fruit removes a major attractant.
Bird Feeders and Chicken Coops
Possums eat birdseed that falls to the ground beneath feeders. They will also enter poorly secured chicken coops to eat eggs, feed, and — in rare cases — chicks. Elevated feeders and reinforced coop doors help reduce these encounters.
Opossum Diet Compared to Other Nuisance Wildlife
Possums are far from the only wildlife species that invades residential properties for food. Understanding how their diet compares to other common nuisance animals can help you identify which critter is actually responsible for the damage.
| Animal | Primary Foods | Common Attractants |
|---|---|---|
| Opossum | Insects, fruit, carrion, garbage | Pet food, trash cans, compost |
| Raccoon | Fish, fruit, garbage, pet food | Trash cans, pet doors, ponds |
| Skunk | Grubs, insects, fruit, eggs | Lawns with grubs, garbage |
| Squirrel | Nuts, seeds, fruit, bark | Bird feeders, attic access |
| Armadillo | Insects, grubs, worms | Moist soil, garden beds |
Like possums, skunks tear up lawns searching for grubs and insects. And just as possums invade attics for shelter, squirrels frequently enter homes through roof gaps and eave openings. Meanwhile, armadillos focus almost exclusively on insects and grubs, leaving distinctive cone-shaped holes in your yard. Knowing the dietary habits of each species helps you choose the right prevention strategy.
Are Possums Beneficial to Your Yard?
Despite their unsettling appearance, possums offer genuine pest control benefits. Their appetite for insects, rodents, and carrion makes them surprisingly useful neighbors — when they stay in moderation.
Natural Tick and Pest Control
Possums are meticulous groomers. When ticks latch onto their fur, possums eat them during grooming sessions. Researchers estimate that a single opossum destroys thousands of ticks each year. This directly reduces the tick population in your yard and lowers the risk of Lyme disease transmission.
They also eat cockroaches, beetles, and other household pests that wander outdoors. In areas with heavy insect pressure, a resident possum can noticeably thin out the bug population.
Carrion Cleanup
Possums scavenge dead animals before they decay and attract flies or spread bacteria. This cleanup role is one of their least appreciated contributions. Without scavengers like possums, decomposing animal matter would linger far longer in residential areas.
Low Rabies Risk
Possums have a lower body temperature than most mammals. This makes it difficult for the rabies virus to survive and replicate in their bodies. While no wild animal is completely rabies-free, the risk from possums is significantly lower than from raccoons, skunks, or bats.
How to Stop Possums From Eating Around Your Property
The most effective way to deter possums is to remove the food sources they rely on. Chemical repellents and ultrasonic devices produce mixed results at best. Eliminating access to food is what actually works.
Secure All Outdoor Food Sources
Follow these steps to cut off the opossum food supply on your property:
- Bring pet food bowls indoors every evening before dark.
- Use trash cans with locking or weighted lids.
- Cover compost piles and avoid adding meat or dairy to open bins.
- Pick ripe fruit and vegetables from your garden promptly.
- Clean up fallen fruit from beneath trees daily.
- Use squirrel-proof bird feeders or bring feeders in at night.
Eliminate Shelter Opportunities
Possums look for dark, enclosed spaces to den during the day. Seal openings under decks, porches, and sheds with hardware cloth. Trim overgrown shrubs that provide dense ground cover. Stack firewood away from the house and off the ground.
If possums are already nesting under a structure, wait until nightfall when they leave to forage, then seal the entry point. Trapping should only be performed by licensed wildlife professionals in most states.
Use Motion-Activated Deterrents
Motion-activated sprinklers and lights can startle possums away from specific areas like gardens, trash cans, or chicken coops. These work best as a supplement to food source removal — not as a standalone solution. Possums are intelligent and will eventually ignore deterrents if food remains available.
When to Call a Wildlife Professional
Most possum encounters don’t require professional intervention. A single possum passing through your yard at night is normal behavior. However, there are situations where expert help becomes necessary.
Call a wildlife removal professional if:
- A possum has taken up residence inside your attic, crawl space, or wall void.
- You find possum droppings accumulating near your home — similar to how raccoon droppings contaminate pools and outdoor areas, possum waste can carry parasites.
- A possum appears active during the day and behaves erratically, which may signal illness.
- You’ve removed food sources but possums keep returning.
- Local regulations restrict DIY trapping or relocation of wildlife.
A licensed technician can safely trap, remove, and exclude possums from your property without harming the animal or violating local wildlife laws. Professional exclusion work also prevents future entry by sealing every vulnerable gap and opening.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do possums eat cats or small dogs?
Possums do not hunt cats or small dogs. They are scavengers, not predators, and they avoid confrontation with animals their size or larger. When threatened, possums hiss, bare their teeth, or play dead — they rarely attack. However, they may compete with outdoor cats over pet food left outside.
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What is a possum's favorite food?
Possums are especially drawn to ripe fruit, insects, and pet food. Among wild foods, persimmons and berries rank high. In residential areas, cat food and unsecured garbage are the most common attractants that bring possums back night after night.
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Do possums eat garden vegetables and plants?
Yes, possums eat tomatoes, strawberries, corn, and other garden produce. They also nibble on leafy greens and herbs. Fencing your garden and harvesting ripe produce promptly are the best ways to protect your plants from opossum damage.
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Are possums dangerous to humans?
Possums are generally not dangerous to humans. They are non-aggressive and prefer to flee or play dead when confronted. Their body temperature makes them resistant to rabies. However, they can carry fleas, lice, and parasites, so avoid direct contact and keep them away from living spaces.
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Will possums eat ticks and reduce Lyme disease risk?
Yes, possums consume large numbers of ticks during their regular grooming habits. Studies suggest a single opossum may kill up to 5,000 ticks per season. By reducing the local tick population, possums indirectly lower the risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease in your yard.
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How do I keep possums out of my trash cans?
Use trash cans with tight-fitting, locking lids or place a heavy weight on top. Store cans in a garage or shed overnight if possible. Rinse containers before discarding them and double-bag meat scraps to reduce odors that attract possums and other wildlife.