There is a spend Florida that created a 12-foot-significant monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one need to do that?
Perfectly, to start with, heroes are challenging to have on this commit Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, dwelling of underneath five hundred people in the guts of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No person else places the possum that has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, very last 1982, Wausau got sick and exhausted with staying left out With all the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every invest Florida requirements a Pageant. And never 1 place in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am creating this up. When you've got attended Washington County, you can realize - and know This is a legitimate story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty potent possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are a handful of matters they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making With all the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the exciting as a result of offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a location to carry its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant draws in a lot of men and women each and on a yearly basis, additionally they adore it.
Day trip for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 can do?) It's a smallish more info marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive body only at night. This is why, when you find yourself while in the suitable dedicate Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is quick to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription on the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in providing 'both fur and food' in the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has provided a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in ordinary moments and it has been An important help to human survival in instances of distress and important have to have.'
Snicker if you want. The persons of Wausau will chortle with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.