There is a dedicate Florida that designed a 12-foot-high monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody really need to do that?
Perfectly, initial off, heroes are difficult for getting using this area in Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, dwelling of a lot less than five hundred persons for the duration of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again in 1982, Wausau got Uninterested in remaining omitted in the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every single location in Florida desires a Pageant. Rather than 1 place in position Florida provides a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you've got never been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I'm Hence, producing this up. Should you have attended Washington County, you may fully grasp - and know It is just a genuine story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some pretty highly effective possum politicians inside the early '80s. Here's certain things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing within the monument along Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even obtained The usa Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the fun by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to hold its yearly Fun Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Competition appeals to A huge number of persons Every and yearly, in addition they come across it irresistible.
Outing for many educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum could be the identical lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 is going to do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unsightly overall body only during the night. This is exactly why, once you find yourself while in the right dedicate Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be not challenging to trap (or shoot) one.
An inscription with regards to the monument in get more info the course of Wausau cites the possum's position in providing 'equally fur and food' through the hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their presence listed here has presented a resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard moments and consists of been a significant aid to human survival in moments of distress and important will need.'
Snicker if you love. The people today of Wausau will chuckle together with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.