A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a devote Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-higher monument all through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person need to do that?
Perfectly, to start with off, heroes are challenging to search out on this commit Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, household of below 500 people in the guts of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the minimum? No one else places the possum that has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, past 1982, Wausau acquired Unwell and tired with getting disregarded in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single make investments Florida needs a Competition. Rather than a single location in Florida provides a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't absent to Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am causeing this to become up. For those who have frequented Washington County, you are going to understand - and know it is a true Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some really potent possum politicians while in the early '80s. Listed here are some things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your constructing in the monument together State Possum removal Camberwell Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received America Congress in promoting the possum. Congress joined the exciting by offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a locale to assist its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other issues, the Competition appeals to A large number of folks Just about every and each and every year, plus they adore it.
Time out for a few educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will execute?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you are inside the ideal spend Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It is basic sufficient to trap (or shoot) just one.
An inscription with regards to the monument through Wausau cites the possum's role in delivering 'both equally fur and food' during the entire generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence right here has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in normal times and it has been an important assist to human survival far more distress and important need to have.'
Snicker if you love. The persons of Wausau will laugh together - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.