N.C. town having NYE possum drop, without live possum
BRASSTOWN, N.C. (AP) — A New Year's Eve possum drop that attracts thousands of people to a tiny western North Carolina town will go on this year, with one big change: It won't involve a live possum.
The Asheville Citizen-Times reportsThursday that Brasstown will have the event Dec. 31 but with a different guest of honor.
During past drops, the possum was suspended in a see-through box covered with tinsel and lowered to the ground at midnight.
Last month, a judge ruled a state agency lacked authority to issue a permit for the drop. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had sued, calling the event illegal and cruel.
Clay Logan has been doing the drop for years. He says he's considering using a stuffed animal or maybe road kill this year.
The Asheville Citizen-Times reportsThursday that Brasstown will have the event Dec. 31 but with a different guest of honor.
During past drops, the possum was suspended in a see-through box covered with tinsel and lowered to the ground at midnight.
Last month, a judge ruled a state agency lacked authority to issue a permit for the drop. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had sued, calling the event illegal and cruel.
Clay Logan has been doing the drop for years. He says he's considering using a stuffed animal or maybe road kill this year.
Geez, is it that hard? Or even news worthy? Get a taxidermist to stuff one critter and use it into the next millenium.
If it's in a box & is lowered to the ground (not really "dropped"), why is this any more cruel than Phil, the groundhog, getting dragged out of it's hole practically before the sun even comes up & held up in front of thousands of cameras & lights & people?
 @katiemcc I thought Phil was a pet groundhog? If he is a pet, then he isn't really dragged out of his hole.Â
 @PrairieDawn I don't know where he is on the other 364 days of the year but on Feb 2nd, they drag him out of a hole. Maybe it's just for effect & they really stick him in there shortly before the "event".
I say use a stuffed animal.You just don't do that to good road kill.