Possums, also known as opossums in North America, are fascinating creatures with unique diets and habits. When they are babies, their nutritional needs differ from adults, and knowing what baby possums eat is important for anyone who finds an orphaned or rescued joey.
Understanding Baby Possums
Baby possums, often called joeys, are born tiny, blind, and hairless. They crawl into their mother’s pouch right after birth and continue to grow there. During this early stage, their only food source is their mother’s milk, which provides the nutrients they need for survival and development.
When they outgrow the pouch, young possums ride on their mother’s back and begin exploring solid foods. This transition period is critical for learning how to survive in the wild.
What Do Baby Possums Eat in the Wild?
In the wild, baby possums slowly shift from milk to solid food. Their diet usually includes:
- Insects like beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers.
- Fruits such as berries, apples, and persimmons.
- Small animals like frogs, snails, and even small rodents.
- Plants and leaves from their surroundings.
- Carrion (dead animals), since possums are opportunistic feeders.
This diet helps them adapt to a wide range of habitats, making them highly resourceful survivors.
What Do Orphaned Baby Possums Eat?
If a baby possum is found without its mother, its diet needs special care. Orphaned joeys should never be given cow’s milk, as it can upset their stomach and even be fatal. Instead, wildlife rehabilitators use specialized formulas designed for marsupials.
Safe Food for Orphaned Baby Possums:
- Commercial wildlife milk replacer (like Esbilac or Wombaroo, depending on location).
- Soft fruits (ripe bananas, berries, melon) when they are old enough.
- Protein-rich foods such as cooked eggs or insects (for older joeys).
- Specialized possum pellets (if provided by wildlife centers).
It’s always best to take orphaned possums to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, as they require precise care to survive.
How Baby Possums Transition to Adult Diets
As baby possums grow, they gradually eat more of what adults eat. By the time they leave their mother’s care, they are omnivores, able to survive on almost anything. Adult possums eat:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Insects and small animals
- Grains and nuts
- Carrion
- Human food scraps when available
This wide diet is why possums often show up around garbage cans or gardens.
Common Myths About Baby Possum Diets
There are a few misconceptions about what baby possums eat:
- Myth 1: Baby possums can drink cow’s milk.
False. Cow’s milk can make them very sick. - Myth 2: They only eat meat.
False. Possums are omnivores and eat both plants and animals. - Myth 3: Feeding a baby possum is easy.
False. They need special formulas and care, which is why contacting wildlife rescue is best.
What to Do If You Find a Baby Possum
If you find a baby possum:
- Check if it is truly abandoned — sometimes the mother is nearby.
- Keep the joey warm in a soft cloth.
- Do not feed it cow’s milk or random food.
- Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately.
Trying to raise a possum without training often leads to poor health or death.
Final Thoughts
So, what do baby possums eat? In the wild, they start with their mother’s milk and gradually move to fruits, insects, plants, and small animals. Orphaned joeys, however, need specialized care and formulas that only trained wildlife rehabilitators should provide.
Possums may look fragile as babies, but with the right diet and care, they grow into strong, adaptable survivors.
FAQs
No. Cow’s milk is harmful and can cause serious illness or death.
Special wildlife milk replacers or formulas designed for marsupials.
Yes, once they are old enough, insects become an important part of their diet.
No. In most places it’s illegal, and possums need expert care to survive.
Usually after leaving the pouch, when they begin riding on their mother’s back.