Guidance on how to double check if it is dead would be very helpful!

Had an opossum hiss at me one time when I hadn’t even noticed it and oh boy that was the most surprising thing ever. I just moved on because of knowing why it did that, but wouldn’t want to gently poke at one pretending to be dead and get a hiss instead!

Way too much effort. I see an opossum and think, “Huh. Neat.” Then continue on with my very busy important life.