A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a make investments Florida that designed a twelve-foot-higher monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody must do that?
Very well, to begin with, heroes acquire time and effort to search out In this particular devote Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 persons throughout Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll count on? No person else places the possum on a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau received fed up with remaining overlooked Together with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each individual commit Florida requires a festival. Instead of one place in Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am producing this up. For those who have long gone to Washington County, you will fully grasp - and know this can be a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are two items they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the developing from the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired The us Congress in advertising the possum. Congress joined the exciting by supplying the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a spot to carry its yearly Enjoyment Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the Competition appeals to Lots of people on a yearly basis, and Additionally they adore it.
Time out For numerous educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum could be the equivalent lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a Possum Removal Melbourne smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unpleasant body only during the night. This is why, while you are inside the ideal devote Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so Will probably be not complicated to catch (or shoot) one.
An inscription around the monument all through Wausau cites the possum's purpose in furnishing 'equally fur and meals' through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has furnished a supply of nutritious and flavorful foods in usual periods and has been a very important help to human survival considerably more distress and significant will need.'
Snicker if you like. The folks of Wausau will chortle alongside - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.