Do Possums Eat Bees? How They Affect Honeybee Colonies

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Do possums eat bees? They are fascinating creatures that may target apiaries,. They are found in a few places across the globe including the United States. In this article, we’ll discuss the effect that possums have on honeybees and their colonies.

What do Possums look like?

Do Possums Eat Bees?

Possums belong to a group of around 70 marsupials that live in trees and originated in Australia and the Indonesian Islands. Adult possums are excellent scavengers, with the little ones not built for hunting. Believe it or not, baby possums are about the size of a honey bee. They rely heavily on their mothers for about 80 days and are fed by their mothers until they are big enough to scavenge. Young possums can also be seen hiding inside their mother’s pouch when they see predators and when cold.

Possums have 50 teeth and instinctively show them when scared or feel threatened. A characteristic foam also forms accompanied by a foul smell. This is a defense mechanism that helps keep them safe. They have a lifespan of about 2 years but will live longer when under human care. They should never be fed with human food but should be given their space. Possums are not a threat to the human population.

Possums can eat dead meat without contracting any disease. They are also known for consuming thousands of ticks within a season, thus helping prevent the spread of diseases. They are not affected by snake venom and can snack on venomous snakes like rattlesnakes and copperheads. Possums can thus help keep off snakes around the areas they inhabit. They are nocturnal and solitary creatures that have adapted to living close to humans. It is common to find them even in urban areas.

Possums have evolved over the ages and can even feed on plants that may be seen as poisonous to some other animals. Their diet cuts across the board and they will scavenge on almost anything.

There are different kinds of possums and each looks unique. They include:

1. Brushtail possum

This is also referred to as Trichosurus vulpecula. It has pointed ears, a bushy black tail, and grey fur. In terms of size, it is about the same size as a household cat. They give birth to one offspring either in autumn or spring. It is then raised for about 6 months inside the pouch and then rides on its mothers back for another two months until weaning. At about 7 or 16 months, it leaves its maternal den.

2. Ringtail Possum

Also referred to as Pseudocheirus peregrines are smaller in size when compared to the brushtail possum. When compared to a household cat, it is half the size. Signature physical features include: round ears, rusty sides, grey back, and a curled white-tipped tail. They give birth to 1 to 3 offspring, at times twins during winter or autumn. This kind rarely enters house roofs and builds their nest using twigs or leaves. Their nest is usually built above the ground, just a few meters off the surface.

3. Cuscuses

These are the largest possums and include the Sulawesi bear cuscus, also referred to as Ailurops Ursinus. They have thick, dark fur and weigh up to 22 pounds.

4. Tasmanian pygmy possum

As implied by its name, this is the smallest possum, about the size of a mouse and will weigh a few ounces.

Reproduction

Do Possums Eat Bees?

Mating and reproduction vary widely among different types of possums. Some types choose one mate whereas others have multiple mates. Others change their mating behavior depending on the availability of food.

Possums give birth to live young and protect them inside their pouches, just like many other marsupials. The young ones are born deaf and blind and are extremely small at birth. They emerge from the birth canal of their mother and crawl into the pouch where they get latched and compete for the nutritious milk. This is their main source of food and any young one that is not able to find and get latched to its mother may not survive.

What do Possums Eat?

Possums rely on a wide variety of food sources for survival. They consume plants and animals, in equal measure. Its main diet comprises dead animals, eggs, insects, birds, slugs, cockroaches, fruits, rodents, plants, snails, grains, worms, berries, nuts, birds, seed, and frogs. They can consume the skeletal remains of dead animals and rodents. You will also find them scavenging garbage cans, in search of human food. They are never picky and will eat dog, cat food and any table remnants.

Possums will eat anything they will find. Their feeding habits allow them to easily access food. They have excellent hearing and smell. They are however poor sighted. Since they are nocturnal animals, they are extremely active at night and will roam around searching for food at this time. Their sharp claws help them dig, climb, and capture their prey. They are also equipped with a long tail that aids when climbing trees, walls, and other structures.

Possums help manage unwanted pests and are generally not dangerous since they are never aggressive. They can however be annoying since they dig up garbage bins, raid chicken houses, and can even ruin a well-maintained garden. There are instances where they play dead for up to 45 minutes while emitting a rotten smell from their anus. These creatures can also fight back household pets when they feel threatened and will inflict serious injury using their sharp teeth. This will rarely occur however, since they mostly prefer to scare off other creatures by exposing their sharp teeth while hissing and growling.

Do Possums Eat Bees?

Possums are creatures with amazing skills when it comes to searching for food. They are exceptional scavengers that rely on a wide variety of food sources. Their diet consists of plants, insects, and some large animals such as birds, rodents, and even dead animals. They do not rely so much on insects for survival and are therefore less inclined to honey bees. They therefore never pose a serious risk to honey bee colonies. It is however possible for possums to become a nuisance to honeybee colonies even though this rarely happens.

You should however be vigilant when it comes to your garden or poultry. Possums are known to invade birdhouses and eat eggs and birds. They also wreak havoc in gardens and will overturn garbage bins as they look for something to eat.

Possums also make use of trees that lie close to buildings. They will often use these trees to get into buildings and look around for anything edible, including pet food. They can scare domestic animals and inflict injury in extreme cases.

How to Keep off Possums

Do Possums Eat Bees? - A large Virginai opossum bedded down in leaves and showing its teeth

Like most endangered wild animals, possums are protected by most state laws. It is prohibited to harass or harm possums. You can however control them as recommended.

You can tell if you have a possum within your yard when you find openings in the fence. These are ideally 3-inch diameter entry points. Scratch marks on tree barks next to the backyard may also be an indication of an invasion. You will also find garbage bins that have been overturned, birdhouses destroyed, and gardens completely messed up. You can also check for footprints and feces. The feces are similar to those of a cat. Their foot markings are also unique, about 2 inches long with the spacing of approximately 6 inches long between the back and front prints. Check out for small holes in soft turf. They do not dig large extensive holes.

Brushtail possums that invade buildings can be captured and released to the same property. You can also take them to a registered vet. The ringtail possums on the other hand will never invade buildings. They also stay away from municipal parks hence the reason most state laws do not allow humans to trap ringtail possum without authorization.

Brushtail possums that live within buildings may be trapped under some conditions. The main individual authorized to trap them include licensed wildlife controllers, the homeowner and members of the family, and managers of the building with all staff.

The required trap should have the following features:

  • It should be a cage trap specially designed to avoid injuring the possum.
  • A wire mesh box with less than 19mm square construction. This will keep the possums from pushing their noses through the mesh to escape. It, therefore, minimizes injury.
  • Traps should be strategically placed to keep off cats, wind, direct sun, dogs, and rain.
  • Ideal possum traps should be purchased from local councils.

Once you have set the trap, keep an eye on it, and ensure it is checked less than 2 hours before the sun rises. The trapped possum should be transferred to a quiet place and covered with a bag or cloth. You should then release it no more than 50 meters from where it was captured, the same day and after sunset.

You are not allowed to relocate brushtail possums. Remember, they should be released at night to avoid stress and an increased chance of injury and attack.

Other ways to keep off Possums

The following methods can also be used to keep off possums from your backyard:

  1. Block access points. You can use one-way access flaps. This should only allow the possums to leave the backyard and not in.
  2. You should also clear out any potential access points such as tree branches next to buildings.
  3. A floppy fence of about 30cm on top of the existing fence can also help keep them off.
  4. 60cm wide metal sheet collars around tree trunks, within 60cm off the ground, can help deny access to possums. These should be ideally the trees that lie next to buildings.
  5. Gardens should also be properly fenced to keep off possums. A floppy fence around the garden will suffice. Ensure the fencing mesh is also buried at least 20cm underground to prevent the creatures from digging their way into the garden.
  6. Fruit trees can also be protected from possums using collars.
  7. An alternative den site can be constructed in the garden for one possum. Once it adopts it, it will keep off other possums. It tends to be territorial and will never share its space with others. You can buy commercial nest boxes and install them in your garden. You should however check it regularly and remove any unwanted bird nests. Certain bird species such as starlings, mynas, and sparrows are usually allured by such nests.

Further Thoughts

Raising a healthy honey bee colony can be challenging, and disheartening if it gets wiped out by predators. As the beekeeper it is therefore wise to be ahead of your enemies, and this means anticipating the enemy before it strikes. It is also important to understand what action to take if you have already been struck by a predator. The bee is an easy target of most predators, ranging from tiny pests to the huge mammals that devastate colonies all over the United States. The seasonal changes also bring its own share of challenges to the honey bees and ultimately the beekeeper. If you thought you overcame winter, then comes along predators that creep in at the dead of the night.

Conclusion

Possums are interesting creatures. They not only have an excellent sense of smell and hearing but also an excellent memory. Laboratory tests ranked highly possums when it comes to their ability to remember where they found food earlier. They will keep returning to the same location for the same foodstuff. They protected animals and it is prohibited to relocate them without proper authorization. You should check out your local regulations before attempting to trap or relocate possums from your backyard. They are never a serious threat to humans or bees; possums rarely eat bees. Their diet is far and wide, and not primarily honeys bees or honey. Therefore, possums should not be a serious concern for any beekeeper. They are however quite destructive by nature and hence the need to keep them in control.

References

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About Michael Simmonds

Michael Simmonds is an American beekeeper with more than two decades of experience in beekeeping. His journey with bees began in his youth, sparking a lifelong passion that led him to start his own apiary at the tender age of 15. Throughout the years, Simmonds has refined his beekeeping skills and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge concerning honeybee biology and behavior. Simmonds' early exposure to beekeeping ignited a fascination with these pollinators, influencing his decision to establish BeeKeepClub in 2016. The website was created with the aim to serve as the ultimate resource for beginners interested in beekeeping. Under Simmonds' guidance, BeeKeepClub provides comprehensive information to novices, including the basics of beekeeping, the different types of bees and hives, the selection of hive locations, and the necessary beekeeping equipment. In addition, the site offers detailed reviews of beekeeping tools to help enthusiasts make informed decisions and get the best value for their investment​​. His contributions to the beekeeping community through BeeKeepClub are substantial, offering both educational content and practical advice. The website covers a wide array of topics, from starting an apiary to harvesting honey, all reflecting Simmonds' extensive experience and passion for the field. Simmonds’ approach is hands-on and educational, focusing on the importance of understanding bees and the environment in which they thrive. His work not only guides beginners through their beekeeping journey but also reflects a commitment to the well-being of bees. Michael Simmonds has dedicated a significant part of his life to bees and beekeeping, and through BeeKeepClub, he has made this knowledge accessible to a broader audience. His work undoubtedly embodies a blend of expertise, authority, and trustworthiness in the realm of beekeeping.
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What Kind Of Bird Eats Bees? – Ploverbirds.com
2 years ago

[…] They are never a serious threat to humans or bees; possums rarely eat bees. Their diet is far and wide, and not primarily honeys bees or honey. Therefore, possums should not be a serious concern for any beekeeper. via […]

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