Opossum

We've had 2 opossum visits this week.  First our dog went into the woods, came out with a opossum in his mouth and laid it in the grass.  A couple of days later the dog brought us another one.  Both of them were laying in the grass looking dead.  Here is how to tell if an opossum is dead or just playing dead:

If he is dead, when you shoot him in the head, he will just lay there. 
If he is alive, when you shoot him in the head he will start squirming and rolling around.
There is simple opossum logic.

And why do you have to spell it opossum!?!?  Why not possom or possum!?!?

WHY!?!?

Parker