A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a place in Florida that built a 12-foot-high monument in the course of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody might like to do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes consider time and effort to uncover using this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of fewer than five hundred persons all through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to state the the very least? No person else places the possum to the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau bought sick and exhausted with getting ignored in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida demands a festival. Instead of one commit Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't attended Washington County, you most likely will Believe I'm creating this up. When you've got been to Washington County, you'll have an understanding of - and know this can be a legitimate story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very highly effective possum politicians during the early '80s. Allow me to share a pair of things they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the quite initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the constructing With all the monument along Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the exciting by furnishing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to maintain its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Pageant appeals to Many of us Each individual and each and every year, and in order that they like it.
Day trip for a lot of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will carry out?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unpleasant physique only during the night. This is Possum removal Camberwell why, Should you be while in the ideal commit Florida, you could hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It is really not so complicated to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription over the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in delivering 'equally fur and foodstuff' through the entire centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their presence listed here has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in usual occasions and consists of been a crucial aid to human survival when in distress and significant will need.'
Giggle if you like. The men and women of Wausau will snicker along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.