Do Possums Eat Snakes ~ Fully Explained Inside!

Opossums like to eat all snakes, including poisonous ones. They relish copperhead, water moccasins, rattlesnakes, boa constrictors, and all other poisonous snakes.

Do possums eat venomous snakes?

Opossums are known to consume at least 12 species of snakes, including venomous ones. They are a cool animal to have in your home because of their consumption of ticks, fire ants, and low occurrence of rabies.

Do possums eat snakes and rats?

According to the National Wildlife Foundation, they kill and eat rats, mice, and other garden pests. They can help keep you and your pets safe from snakebites if they are resistant or partially resistant.

Will possums eat snakes and rodents?

  • They are opportunistic omnivores the opossum’s normal diet consists of carrion
  • Rodents
  • Snakes
  • Insects
  • Snails
  • Slugs
  • Birds
  • Eggs
  • Frogs
  • Plants
  • Fruits
  • Grains

Opossums will eat human food, pet food, and dead animals if given the chance. They are omnivorous, meaning that they will eat almost anything they can get their hands on, including insects and other invertebrates.

In fact, they have been known to eat as much as 50% of their body weight in a single meal. Their diet is so varied that it is difficult to keep track of what they eat and when. The following is a list of some of the most common foods that are eaten by the common house mouse.

Check the list below

  • Carrion: carcasses of animals such as rats
  • Mice
  • Rabbits
  • Squirrels
  • Guinea pigs
  • Hamsters
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Horses
  • Cows
  • Sheep
  • Goats
  • Chickens
  • Ducks
  • Geese
  • Swans
  • Turkeys
  • Pigeons
  • Many other animals are used as food in the wild

It is not uncommon for a mouse or rat to be found dead on the side of a road or in an alleyway.

Will possums keep snakes away?

If you live in an area with rattlesnakes or copperheads, you might be able to keep your family safe by keeping poisonous snakes away from your home. Possums are known to be very protective of their young, so if you find one in your yard, it’s a good idea to take it to a wildlife rehabilitator for a check-up.

Do possums eat cats?

Opossums do not prey on cats or other larger mammals but will attack them if cornered or competing for food. Loss to home gardens can be caused by eating nuts, berries, fruits, and grapes. They may raid garbage cans for pet food. The best way to prevent opossum damage to your property is to keep your pets indoors. If you have a cat or dog, keep them indoors at all times.

What animal kills copperheads?

The copperhead’s main predator are the owls and hawks, but other snakes may also prey on the snakes. In the wild, copperheads are nocturnal, living in burrows and crevices in trees and shrubs. They are active during the day and sleep at night. During the winter, they hibernate in tree hollows and caves. In the spring, when the weather warms up, these snakes emerge from their hibernation sites to hunt for food.

Do possums do anything good?

But far from being a nuisance, opossums can be beneficial for your garden, eating snails, slugs, insects and sometimes even small rodents. They will clean up spilled garbage and fruit that fell on the ground.