What these people saw was obviously a northern cousin of the Southern Were'possum. Local legend has it that if a man (or woman) dies in an election year after voting a straight Democratic ticket, they will be resurrected as a were'possum. The were'possums will spend eternity foraging for roadkill along our highways and byways. Now the only way this creature can be released from this "redneck purgatory" is to be exorcised (not to be confused with circumsized) by a speeding vehicle with its headlights on high beam.
I hope this clears things up.
P.S.
Wanna buy some porcupine eggs?