A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a commit Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-large monument during town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone ought to do that?
Perfectly, very first off, heroes consider effort and time to have with this place in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of beneath 500 individuals in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? No person else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, past 1982, Wausau acquired sick and worn out with getting disregarded in the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every commit Florida needs a festival. And never a single location in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not visited Washington County, you probably will Feel I am generating this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you'll recognize - and know This is actually the genuine Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some very powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Here are a number of 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 creating While using the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained the United States Congress in advertising the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by delivering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a locale to hold its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition appeals to A lot of people annually, and Additionally they like it.
Day out to get a couple educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you are In the appropriate put set up Florida, you may hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, click here the possum 'freezes', so It can be quick to trap (or shoot) a person.
An inscription for that monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'each fur and foodstuff' in the full generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical instances and includes been a crucial support to human survival in situations of distress and important want.'
Chortle if you like. The people today of Wausau will chuckle with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.