There is a devote Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person may possibly love to do that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are tricky for getting on this area in Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, property of fewer than 500 folks in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you would probably assume? Nobody else places the possum having a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again 1982, Wausau got fed up with being neglected of your Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual set in position Florida demands a festival. Instead of one place set up Florida incorporates a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've got under no circumstances attended Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am developing this up. If you have been to Washington County, you are going to comprehend - and know It's a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed below are two factors they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the First Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the setting up of your monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The us Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by offering the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a region to carry its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the Competition appeals to tons of people Just about every and annually, additionally they adore it.
Trip for a few educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can do?) It is a smallish marsupial Possum Catcher Melbourne that life in trees and reveals its unappealing system only during the night. That's why, when you find yourself from the suitable place in Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', consequently it really is not so complicated to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription to the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in delivering 'both equally fur and food items' throughout the total hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their existence right here has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard periods and possesses been a significant aid to human survival much more distress and significant want.'
Laugh if you love. The folks of Wausau will laugh along with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.