Possums are a marsupial species of mammal; they are nocturnal rodents that spend most of the day sleeping in trees or other elevated areas. Possums are omnivores and have a wide diet that includes insects, fruit, and flowers. Interestingly, possums do eat dog poop; the content of the poop often attracts possums as they set out in search of food to eat.
Possums can eat dog poop because of the undigested particles passed out with other waste in the poop; the undigested food particles contain grains and nuts that are natural food for possums. So when possums see dog poop, they are attracted to it because of the nuts, grains, and other feed ingredients they can see in the poop.
You may not want to read this but dog poops contain nutrients like vitamins A and B12 as well as protein can be nutritionally beneficial to Possums. Dogs are fed highly nutritious food; the undigested part of the food, mainly grains, nuts, and other nutritious ingredients can benefit possums. However, this should not be encouraged because eating dog poop can cause harm and impair the health of the possum.
Risk Associated with Possums Eating Dogs Poops
Possums are attracted to dog feces because of their smell and the feed ingredients present in the poop. However, dog poop can contain parasites and disease pathogens. The ingestion of dog poop by possums can lead to disease and parasite transmission from the dog to the possums.
Possums can carry several diseases and parasites when they eat dog poop; parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms can be present in the dog poop; similarly, diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, salmonella, and raccoon roundworm disease can also be transmitted to possums from eating dog poop. The ripple effect is, that these parasites or diseases can be transferred to humans when possum urine and feces come in contact with human food and water.
In addition, when possums bite or scratch humans, they can spread dangerous illnesses like rabies, tuberculosis, leptospirosis, and spotted fever. Also, Possums are known to defecate in pools and water sources. Hence, this can spread infections or parasites to humans when they come in contact with polluted water bodies. So it’s best to keep dogs and possums separated as much as possible.
Read More: How To Tame A Wild Possum
Appearance and Behavior of Possums
Possums live in woodlands and are found in many parts of North, Central, and South America. They live in secluded areas, where they often use abandoned dens of other animals as a nest. Possums are also found in urban areas where they scavenge for food. Their diets vary from region to region, as the prey animals and vegetation in each area are different.
The possum is a medium-sized animal that measures between 15 and 20 inches long and weighs around 14 pounds. It has long, coarse, grayish-white fur. Possums have long, pointed faces and rounded ears. Their long, hairless tails are prehensile and used for grabbing objects and branches.
Possums are nocturnal animals that move from place to place in search of food. They have opposable thumbs and prehensile trails, which help them climb trees, forage insects, and attack birds and other small animals. Possums have about 50 teeth. They use their sharp claws to dig up food, and their long, flexible noses are useful for tracking garbage.
Facts About Possums
Here are some interesting facts about possums and dog poop.
1. Possums Play Dead
Whenever Possums are threatened or cornered they will often play dead. Possums are known to evade predators by mimicking the appearance of dead bodies. To make this look real, Possums expel a foul-smelling liquid from their mouth.
2. Possums are scavengers
Possums are scavengers and will eat any plant matter, dead thing, or leftover food from the trash. They love to rattle waste bins and dump sites in search of leftover foods, worms, and small insects.
3. Possums are nocturnal
Possums are generally nocturnal and active at night, making them a difficult nuisance in the daytime. Because they sleep in the trees and burrows of other animals, they are most active at night. When you notice a possum in your yard, you may be able to find the problem by leaving crumbs and food outdoors overnight.
4. Possums eat small prey animals
Possums can feed on small animals, like mice and rats. They have also been known to eat road kill and scavenge in urban areas. Other prey species include insects and snakes.
5. Possums are not aggressive to dogs
Possums are not aggressive toward dogs, but they may play dead if your dog threatens them. Most possums will avoid homes with dogs, however, they can search garbage cans and compost bins containing leftover food or dog poop.
6. Possums pee in the same area they poop
Possums often pee in the same place they poop. Possum feces can cause a wide range of illnesses in humans and animals. Possum urine carries Leptospirosis bacteria. Leptospirosis causes flu-like symptoms and can cause fatality in people with weak immune systems. You should protect your family and pets from them by closing off any water source.
In summary, eating dog poop and other animal wastes is not harmful to Possums, instead, it serves as a source of nutrients like proteins and vitamins. Possum’s digestive system is sophisticated enough to break down this waste and convert it into a beneficial source of nutrients.