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

There's a set in position Florida that designed a 12-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone may love to do that?
Properly, to start out, heroes are complicated to discover on this devote Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, residence of less than 500 people throughout Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'll hope? No one else puts the possum on a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, very last 1982, Wausau obtained sick and exhausted with becoming left out Using the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every devote Florida needs a Pageant. Instead of one particular location in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you most likely will Imagine I am producing this up. For those who have visited Washington County, you can comprehend - and know This is actually the real story.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some really highly effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are several factors they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the constructing While using the monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable as a result of supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a spot to aid its yearly Fun Day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other things, the Pageant appeals to 1000s of people today Just about every and on a yearly basis, plus they adore it.
Trip for some educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will complete?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive physique only during the night. That's why, when you're within the right spend Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' canine baying get more info and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it's not challenging to capture (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription in regards to the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in offering 'both equally fur and food' all over the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence below has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual periods and it has been a vital aid to human survival in instances of distress and significant want.'
Snicker if you love. The people of Wausau will snicker together with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.