Damon Mcknight
Australian possums are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. They are versatile and will eat almost anything, but their diet is primarily plant-based. They are folivores, eating leaves, flowers, and fruit. In urban areas, they are known to eat human food like bread and leftover meat, and they have also been observed consuming rosebuds. They will also eat small animals, including birds, lizards, and bugs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Plant-based, including leaves, flowers, and fruit |
| Examples of plants eaten | Eucalyptus, green plum, acacia, red bush apple |
| Other foods eaten | Bread, bird eggs, small lizards, meat, vegetables, bugs, small animals |
| Foods to avoid feeding possums | Sweets, junk food, raw meat, almonds, cheese, onions, dairy products, green potatoes |
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What You'll Learn
- Australian possums enjoy eating leaves, especially eucalyptus leaves
- They also eat flowers, fruits and vegetables
- In urban areas, they eat human food like bread and leftover meat
- They are also known to eat small animals like lizards and birds
- Possums should not be fed junk food, sweets, cheese, onions or dairy products
Australian possums enjoy eating leaves, especially eucalyptus leaves
Australian possums are versatile in their eating habits, but they particularly enjoy eating leaves. Possums are primarily nocturnal and tend to forage for food at night, making them adaptable to different environments. They are also omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter.
Leaves are a favourite food for possums, especially eucalyptus leaves. In fact, the Ringtail Possum will eat its faeces to get the maximum nutrients from these leaves. If eucalyptus is not available, possums will settle for other plants, such as green plum, acacia, and red bush apple. They also eat new shoots and flowers, including roses, fuchsias, and passionfruit.
Possums have a very low metabolism, so their calorie needs are easily met with simple plants. However, they sometimes indulge in fruits, which are more calorie-dense and provide an easy source of energy. Fruits can be a treat for possums as they can easily become overweight. Possums can also eat vegetables in small quantities, such as squash, capsicum, eggplant, and pumpkin.
In urban areas, possums tend to eat more fruit and bread. They may also scavenge for leftover meat from BBQs or raid bins for discarded food. However, meat is not a significant part of their diet, and they are not carnivores. Possums also hunt small lizards, birds, bird eggs, and invertebrates, supplementing their plant-based diet with protein.
While possums can be considered pests, they can also be beneficial to gardeners as they eat snails, slugs, and beetles. Possums should not be fed certain human foods like sweets, junk food, cheese, onions, or dairy products, as these can be harmful to their health.
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They also eat flowers, fruits and vegetables
Australian possums are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. They are primarily folivores, meaning they eat a lot of leaves, especially eucalyptus leaves. However, they also eat flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
Flowers are a favourite food for possums, and they particularly enjoy roses, gardenias, fuchsias, and native flowers. They also eat the buds of these flowers, and rose bushes are a favoured food source in suburban areas.
Fruits are a more calorie-dense option for possums, providing an easy source of energy. They are considered a 'cheat meal' due to the high sugar content, which can cause possums to become overweight. Fruits that possums enjoy include passionfruit, apples, oranges, pears, figs, bananas, grapes, and kiwis. They will also eat these fruits from your compost bin, so it is important to cover it securely.
Vegetables that possums can eat include squash, capsicum, eggplant, pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini, green beans, and turnips. However, these should be finely chopped and provided in small amounts, with the seeds removed.
Possums are versatile and opportunistic eaters, and while their diet is mostly plant-based, they will also eat small animals, including insects, snails, slugs, and beetles.
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In urban areas, they eat human food like bread and leftover meat
Australian possums are versatile eaters with a plant-based diet, consuming leaves, flowers, and fruit. They are particularly fond of eucalyptus leaves, but will also eat green plum, acacia, and red bush apple leaves. In addition to their plant-based diet, possums also eat small animals, carrion, and insects. They are known to scavenge for food in forests and urban areas, demonstrating their adaptability to different environments.
In urban areas, Australian possums have been known to eat human food like bread and leftover meat. While meat is not a significant part of their diet, possums may search bins or rubbish left outdoors for discarded food, including meat scraps from BBQ parties. This behaviour highlights their ability to adapt to their surroundings and take advantage of available food sources.
It is important to note that possums are attracted to certain human foods that can be harmful to their health. Processed foods, sweets, and junk food can cause serious digestive issues and even death in possums. Therefore, while possums may eat human food in urban areas, it is crucial to ensure they do not have access to unhealthy or dangerous substances.
The presence of possums in urban areas can be managed through various methods. Nest boxes, artificial hollows, wildlife corridors, and community conservation efforts can provide safe and natural shelter for possums, allowing them to live peacefully alongside humans. However, it is recommended that people do not feed possums directly, as this can create dependency and negatively impact their survival skills.
Overall, Australian possums are adaptable eaters, and their diet varies depending on their environment. In urban settings, they may consume human food like bread and meat scraps, but it is important to prioritise their health and well-being by providing them with natural and nutritious food sources whenever possible.
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They are also known to eat small animals like lizards and birds
Australian possums are versatile eaters, with a primarily plant-based diet. They are known to eat leaves, fruits, flowers, fungi, and bark. However, they are also known to eat small animals like lizards and birds.
While possums are not carnivores, they do consume small amounts of animal protein. In addition to insects and eggs, possums have been known to hunt and eat small lizards and birds. This is especially true in urban areas, where possums may scavenge for leftover meat on discarded bones from barbecues or raid bins for food scraps.
The common brushtail possum, a subspecies of possum found in Australia, is known to be a generalist feeder. It is mainly a folivore, but it has been observed to eat small mammals such as rats and birds. This subspecies is the most frequently encountered by city dwellers, as it is adaptable and thrives in various environments, including cities.
The consumption of lizards and birds by possums is likely driven by their need for protein, which is lacking in their typical plant-based diet. Possums have a low metabolic rate and can easily become overweight, so their diet should primarily consist of native plants. However, they do require some protein, which they obtain from various sources, including small animals.
It is important to note that while possums may eat lizards and birds, meat makes up only a small portion of their diet. Possums are not carnivores and are primarily plant eaters. They are known to raid bins and scavenge for food, which may include meat, but this is not their main source of nutrition. Overall, the diet of Australian possums consists mostly of leaves, fruits, and other plant matter, with small animals like lizards and birds being an occasional part of their diet.
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Possums should not be fed junk food, sweets, cheese, onions or dairy products
Possums are versatile eaters with a wide-ranging palate that helps them adapt to different environments. While they are primarily folivores, eating leaves, flowers, and fruit, they also consume vegetables, bugs, and small animals, including lizards, birds, eggs, and invertebrates. In urban areas, they may also eat bread and leftover meat.
However, some foods commonly consumed by humans are harmful to possums and should be avoided when feeding them. These include:
- Junk food: Processed junk food and sweets contain ingredients that cannot be metabolized by possums' digestive tracts.
- Cheese: Possums should not be fed cheese or other dairy products as lactose will cause diarrhoea, slow their growth, and may even cause death.
- Onions: Onions are among the foods that can make possums ill.
Possums can become dependent on humans for food, so it is generally recommended that they are not fed. Instead, they should be encouraged to forage for food, with small quantities placed in high locations to promote natural behaviour.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian possums are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. They eat leaves, flowers, fruits, vegetables, bugs, and even small animals.
Australian possums eat vegetables such as squash, capsicum, eggplant, pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini, green beans, and turnips.
Australian possums eat high-sugar fruits such as oranges, apples, pears, figs, bananas, grapes, and kiwis. They also eat other fruits like passionfruit and rose buds.
Australian possums are not carnivores and do not eat large amounts of meat. However, they have been known to hunt small lizards and eat bird eggs and leftover meat from discarded BBQ bones.
You should not feed Australian possums sweets, junk food, raw meat, almonds, cheese, onions, dairy products, or green potatoes. These foods can be harmful to possums and cause long-term health issues.
