A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a invest Florida that created a 12-foot-higher monument in the heart of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual wish to perform that?
Effectively, very first off, heroes are tough to come back by with this particular devote Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of much less than 500 people all through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to mention the minimum? No person else puts the possum about a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Uninterested in remaining left out while in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every single commit Florida requires a Pageant. Instead of one particular put in place Florida features a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never absent to Washington County, you probably will Assume I am Consequently, making this up. Should you have been to Washington County, you will recognize - and know This may be a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, had some fairly effective possum politicians over the early '80s. Here's some things they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the constructing from the monument together Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by way of providing the click here money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau can have a place to hold its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition appeals to tons of individuals per year, and in order that they adore it.
Day out For most educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unpleasant overall body only during the night. That is why, when you are inside of correct make investments Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', therefore it is not tough to hook (or shoot) a single.
An inscription about the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'the two fur and food stuff' through the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in standard situations and it has been a major help to human survival much more distress and critical need.'
Snicker In order for you. The people today of Wausau will chortle along - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.