A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a dedicate Florida that developed a twelve-foot-superior monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual desire to perform that?
Very well, to get started on, heroes just take time and effort to come back by In this particular area in Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, house of much less than 500 people in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you should hope? No person else places the possum around the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau acquired tired of getting neglected on the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Just about every put set up Florida needs a Pageant. Rather than 1 devote Florida has a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't absent to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm making this up. When you have long gone to Washington County, you can expect to comprehend - and know this can be a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some pretty powerful possum politicians over the early '80s. Listed here are a couple of points they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the setting up with the monument alongside State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even bought America Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the fun by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to hold website its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the festival draws in Lots of individuals annually, and in order that they adore it.
Trip for many educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will accomplish?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its ugly physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you are within the proper devote Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is quick to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription about the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's function in offering 'both equally fur and food' throughout the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has offered a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual periods and has been a vital support to human survival in occasions of distress and important need to have.'
Laugh if you like. The people today of Wausau will chuckle along - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.