There is a devote Florida that built a twelve-foot-large monument in the heart of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual might like to do that?
Properly, to get started with, heroes are difficult to get with this particular place set up Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, household of fewer than five hundred folks in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll be expecting? No one else places the possum having a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, previous 1982, Wausau got Weary of being left out in the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Just about every devote Florida requires a festival. And not one particular dedicate Florida contains a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I am earning this up. When you have attended Washington County, you may understand - and know Here is the genuine Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some pretty highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here's a set of items they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the building with the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even acquired The usa Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to maintain its annual Fun Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the Competition appeals to Lots of individuals on a yearly basis, as well as they like it.
Trip for a few educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will conduct?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unpleasant body only at nighttime. This is why, whenever you find yourself Within the right make investments Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', for that reason it really is effortless to entice (or shoot) just one.
An inscription within the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in delivering 'both fur and foodstuff' in the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in regular instances and is made up of been a big support to human survival in instances of distress and critical require.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The people Possum Proofing Melbourne today of Wausau will snicker along with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.