An area in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
An area in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a dedicate Florida that developed a twelve-foot-higher monument all through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person must do that?
Nicely, initial off, heroes are challenging to discover on this devote Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household of under five hundred persons through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again in 1982, Wausau received fed up with remaining left out in the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every location in Florida needs a Pageant. And never a single place set up Florida encompasses a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you most likely will Believe I'm So, producing this up. For those who have absent to Washington County, you'll recognize - and know This may be a real story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some fairly highly effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Allow me to share two or three matters they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making Using the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought The us Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to help keep its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other items, the festival appeals to Many individuals yearly, and Additionally they adore it.
Time out for your number of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing entire body only in the evening. This is why, when you end up during the correct commit Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be effortless to catch (or shoot) a more info person.
An inscription about the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in offering 'equally fur and food' through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence here has provided a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular occasions and it's been an essential aid to human survival when in distress and important will need.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The individuals of Wausau will chortle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.