Quick answer
Opossums feed on insects, carrion, fruit and eggs, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Woodland, farmland, suburbs of North America. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
Key takeaway
Opossums feed on insects, carrion, fruit and eggs, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Woodland, farmland, suburbs of North America. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
Opossum diet overview
Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are best summarised as Omnivore (insects, carrion, fruit, eggs). Anatomy and habitat (Woodland, farmland, suburbs of North America) decide whether they hunt, graze, filter, scavenge, or mix strategies across the year.
How opossums find food
Energy-rich foods are prioritised when available; lean seasons force broader diets or longer travel. Young animals may eat different items or receive food from parents.
Opossum role in the food web
As consumers in their food web, opossums move nutrients and influence prey or vegetation.
Feeding and human conflict
Never feed wild opossums. Habituation raises injury risk and can lead to lethal management. Captive diets must match species needs, not generic pet food rules.
A marsupial in North America
Unlike the continent's other mammals, the Virginia opossum is a marsupial: its young are born tiny and undeveloped after just under two weeks, then crawl into the mother's pouch to keep growing. Once they outgrow the pouch, the joeys ride on her back. This makes the opossum a close relative of kangaroos and koalas rather than of the rodents it superficially resembles.
Playing possum
When badly frightened and unable to flee, an opossum may involuntarily fall into a near-comatose state — lying still with its mouth open, tongue out, and emitting a foul smell — that can last from minutes to hours. This 'playing possum' is not a conscious trick but a reflex that makes predators lose interest in what appears to be a rotting carcass. More often, a cornered opossum first hisses, growls, and bares its ma
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Opossum FAQs
What do opossums eat?
Opossums feed on insects, carrion, fruit and eggs, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Woodland, farmland, suburbs of North America. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
What is the scientific name of the opossum?
Didelphis virginiana — used in research and conservation listings for opossums.
Where do opossums live?
They are associated with Woodland, farmland, suburbs of North America. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of opossums?
Listed in our guides as Least Concern. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.