A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There's a position in Florida that developed a twelve-foot-high monument in the guts of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody must do that?
Very well, to start with, heroes are hard to search out On this location in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of lower than 500 folks in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the least? No person else places the possum by using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau received fed up with being neglected with the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida requires a festival. Instead of just one set set up Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have never absent to Washington County, you most likely will Consider I'm producing this up. For those who have long gone to Washington County, you can understand - and know This may be a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather strong possum politicians inside the early '80s. Here are certain things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly initial Saturday in August as Possum removal Glen iris Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the making from the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The us Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by way of furnishing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to assist its yearly Fun Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the Pageant appeals to 1000s of folks each and every year, and Additionally they love it.
Time out For most educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is definitely the similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you find yourself within the right commit Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be not challenging to catch (or shoot) 1.
An inscription within the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in providing 'both equally fur and foods' through the total generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence below has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in regular moments and contains been an important aid to human survival a lot more distress and demanding need to have.'
Chortle if you're keen on. The people today of Wausau will chortle along - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.