An area in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a put in Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the course of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone should do that?
Properly, initial off, heroes are hard to acquire on this invest Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of a lot less than five hundred people in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum which has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, past 1982, Wausau got sick and worn out with becoming overlooked With all the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each and every make investments Florida requires a Pageant. And never 1 set in position Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am creating this up. In case you have frequented Washington County, you are going to understand - and know this can be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some pretty effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are two factors they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the developing within the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The us Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a place to keep its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That website includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the festival appeals to Many individuals annually, and so they love it.
Outing For lots of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing physique only in the evening. This is exactly why, when you are inside the right devote Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It's going to be easy to catch (or shoot) a person.
An inscription about the monument all through Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'both fur and meals' throughout the complete centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard moments and possesses been an important support to human survival through moments of distress and important want.'
Snicker should you'd like. The people today of Wausau will laugh in conjunction with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.