There's a commit Florida that crafted a 12-foot-higher monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual may love to do that?
Properly, to begin, heroes take effort and time to return by inside this devote Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 folks in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you would probably count on? No one else places the possum over the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again in 1982, Wausau got fed up with remaining overlooked Together with the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every commit Florida wishes a Competition. Rather than a single dedicate Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not long gone to Washington County, you most likely will think I am causeing this to generally be up. When you've got attended Washington County, you may have an understanding of - and know It's really a correct Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed here are a set of factors they achieved:


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

They even got The usa Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the entertaining through supplying the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to maintain its annual Exciting Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the Competition appeals to A huge number of men and women on a yearly basis, and they like it.
Day trip for a lot Possum Pest Control Melbourne of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unsightly entire body only during the night. That is why, once you find yourself in the proper invest Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is not complicated to catch (or shoot) just one.
An inscription to the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's position in offering 'both of those fur and foods' over the entire hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence below has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in standard moments and has been A vital aid to human survival much more distress and significant need to have.'
Laugh if you like. The people today of Wausau will giggle together - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.