An area in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a dedicate Florida that developed a twelve-foot-significant monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one ought to do that?
Nicely, to start with off, heroes are tricky to search out on this make investments Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, household of underneath five hundred individuals in the guts of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? No person else puts the possum on a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again in 1982, Wausau received Sick and tired of becoming disregarded from the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Just about every place in Florida wishes a Competition. Rather than 1 spend Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've never been to Washington County, you probably will Assume I am making this up. In case you have gone to Washington County, you can recognize - and know it is a genuine story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some pretty effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are a set of issues they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the extremely to start with Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the developing from the monument together Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even bought The usa Congress in advertising and marketing Possum removal Glen iris the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a location to aid its annual Enjoyable Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Pageant attracts a lot of men and women each and every year, plus they come across it irresistible.
Day out For most educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its unsightly overall body only at night. That is why, when you are In the appropriate set in position Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', therefore it is actually not so challenging to hook (or shoot) a person.
An inscription about the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's role in delivering 'both of those fur and meals' through the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence in this article has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical instances and has been a big aid to human survival when in distress and important have to have.'
Chortle If you would like. The persons of Wausau will laugh coupled with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.