Answer:
*Possums (a generally Australian marsupial) should not be confused with opossums, (western hemisphere marsupials) which are very different creatures and so have different defence mechanisms (it is the opossum that "plays dead" to deter predators).
A possum's only defence is its sharp claws and teeth, and a loud and angry hiss when cornered. Apart from that, it tries to escape predators by climbing. It is a very agile creature, able to jump and climb, including hanging upside down by its feet as it runs along cables and wires. A possum also uses camouflage, staying still so that predators cannot easily spot it.