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

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

Blog Article

There is a commit Florida that designed a twelve-foot-substantial monument for the duration of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody ought to do that?
Perfectly, initial off, heroes are difficult to seek out inside of this commit Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, household of less than 500 people in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? No person else places the possum to the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with remaining overlooked on the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each individual place in place Florida needs a Competition. Rather than one particular devote Florida provides a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not gone to Washington County, you most likely will think I'm Consequently, creating this up. If you have absent to Washington County, you'll recognize - and know This may be a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some quite strong possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Allow me to share two or three matters they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led into the building While using the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment via giving the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to support its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant attracts a lot of men and women Every single and each and every year, plus they discover it irresistible.
Day trip for some educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only at night. That's why, when you're in the ideal commit Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be not tricky to catch (or shoot) one.
An inscription around the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both equally fur and food stuff' throughout the overall generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard moments and includes been an important enable to human survival when in distress and significant require.'
Chortle If you need. The people more info of Wausau will giggle coupled with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.