There is a dedicate Florida that built a twelve-foot-large monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone might like to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are tough to locate on this invest Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of much less than 500 persons in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No person else puts the possum above a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again 1982, Wausau got Unwell and Sick and tired of staying disregarded in the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida would like a Pageant. And never a single location in Florida encompasses a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I'm developing this up. In case you have been to Washington County, you will have an understanding of - and know it is a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some quite impressive possum politicians inside the early '80s. Listed here are a couple of items they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the making with the monument along Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got America Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by means of providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to carry its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. Possum removal Camberwell Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other items, the Pageant draws in 1000s of persons on a yearly basis, plus they adore it.
Trip For several educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum will be the similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unsightly overall body only at night. That is why, For anyone who is inside of right spot in Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', as a result it's straightforward to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription within the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in delivering 'both of those fur and food items' throughout the full centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence below has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular instances and is made up of been An important support to human survival when in distress and important need to have.'
Laugh if you want. The people of Wausau will giggle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.