1) How long can a possum play dead for? 2) If it is indeed dead, how long before the smell kicks in? 3) How do I go about dispoing of the said Possum? Now alow me to explain, everytime a possum comes into our backyard, my dog naturally gets into a fight with it, and he comes out the winner. Other than the first fight, he doesnt get hurt,(he did get scratched below his eye, but he is fine, he didnt get rabies or anything) This has happened 3 times BTW.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum When threatened or harmed, they will "play possum", mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. The lips are drawn back, teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands. The physiological response is involuntary, rather than a conscious act. Their stiff, curled form can be prodded, turned over, and even carried away. Many injured opossums have been killed by well-meaning people who find a catatonic animal and assume the worst. The best thing to do upon finding an injured or apparently dead opossum is to leave it in a quiet place with a clear exit path. In minutes or hours, the animal will regain consciousness and escape quietly on its own. Sorry , I thought this was joke, but here's some information and I hope it helps.