Suspicious homeowner plants camera to catch 'dead' opossum playing 'possum

FRANKFORT TOWNSHIP, Ill., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- An Illinois man suspicious of a seemingly dead opossum left the animal alone with a video camera to catch it living up to its name.

The Frankfort Township man said in a video posted online his German shepherd had previously caught an apparently dead opossum that later disappeared when left unattended, so he decided to film when the dog, Petra, caught another opossum near the back door.

The man films the opossum for a few moments to show it does not appear to be moving or breathing before leaving the animal unattended with the camera.

The video shows the seemingly dead animal spring back to life and scurry away -- proving it was indeed "playing 'possum."

The man expressed admiration for the opossum.

"This defense mechanism HAS to be the bravest of all defense mechanisms," he wrote. "To trust your autonomic nervous system enough to seem completely lifeless in order to save your life."