A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a devote Florida that created a twelve-foot-superior monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person might love to do that?
Very well, to start with off, heroes are hard to obtain with this particular invest Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, home of below five hundred people in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'd probably anticipate? Nobody else puts the possum about the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau received sick and Weary of being omitted With all the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every devote Florida desires a Competition. And not 1 area in Florida incorporates a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you probably will Consider I am causeing this to generally be up. For those who have frequented Washington County, you will comprehend - and know this can be a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some very effective possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share two items they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making Using the monument along State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the fun by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to carry its once-a-year Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other matters, the Competition appeals to 1000s of persons every year, plus they like it.
Day out for a couple of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why Possum Catcher Melbourne use seven letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its ugly overall body only during the night time. That's why, if you're in the right devote Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is not so challenging seize (or shoot) a person.
An inscription with regard to the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in furnishing 'both of those fur and foodstuff' all over the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in normal occasions and possesses been an important assist to human survival for the duration of occasions of distress and significant have to have.'
Laugh In order for you. The folks of Wausau will snicker coupled with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.