h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, where I live on the mid atlantic coast, there are plenty of possum encounters, as evidenced by roadkill.

I was once able to observe this marsupial 'playing possum' first-hand. It occurred one hot steamy summer morning when I went to take a swim in the backyard in-ground pool. I stopped short to see a small drowned ratty looking possum, or opossum, as some are prone to call them. He lay floating in the water. He obviously fell into the pool the night before and was unable to get out. I fetched a pool accessory, a long pole with a net at its end, used for cleaning the pool...and deposited the varmint on the lawn to take a good look at him. He looked as if he met a most frightful end, his teeth were bared, his fur matted, with no signs of life. I gave him a good hard close look. I may have even poked him a few times. Soon my interest waned, and I was off to have a swim. But then, after a few minutes, he jumped up and ran off!
I have seen many other possums since then. They sure are an ugly sight. They are not very swift of foot or swift of head for that matter.
Possum meat is sold for human consumption at small markets, along with muskrat, snapping turtles, and local fish.