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

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

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There's a make investments Florida that constructed a 12-foot-higher monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one may like to do that?
Properly, very first off, heroes are challenging to acquire On this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, house of under 500 persons in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else puts the possum which has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again in 1982, Wausau bought fed up with remaining left out with the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every single dedicate Florida wants a festival. And never 1 devote Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I'm causeing this being up. If you have frequented Washington County, you are going to comprehend - and know it is a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly potent possum politicians over the early '80s. Here's a pair of matters they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly to start with Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the developing through the monument together State Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable via providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have an area to carry its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Pageant attracts lots of individuals on a yearly click here basis, and so they like it.
Day out for a great deal of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will conduct?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unattractive body only at nighttime. That's why, when you are inside of correct location in Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is easy to capture (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription to the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in offering 'both fur and food items' over the entire centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in usual periods and it's been an essential assist to human survival when in distress and critical will need.'
Giggle should you'd prefer. The folks of Wausau will snicker alongside - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.