PETA Takes Aim At Florida Possum Festival
TALLAHASEEE (CBSMiami/NSF) -- The Possum Festival in the small Northwest Florida community of Wausau has long been a draw for politicians trying to show off their down-home credibility. But the festival is facing criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
PETA said in a news release this week that it has sent a letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission calling for an investigation into a part of the festivities that involves politicians holding the animals by the tail on stage.
PETA said Florida laws "prohibit displaying wildlife in a manner that is cruel or otherwise poses a threat to them and that holding and shaking adult opossums by their sensitive prehensile tails can cause permanent injuries such as spinal dislocation, nerve damage, a prolapsed anus, and the rupture of the animals' largest vein.
Many opossums returned to the wild after the event likely die because they can no longer use their tails to climb and engage in other behavior necessary for their survival or because they have succumbed to 'capture myopathy' --- literally dying of fright."
The festival, which was held Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 this year, includes activities such as a parade, music and a king and queen contest.
"The News Service of Florida contributed to this report."
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