Brasstown – A nationally known animal rights organization is trying to remove the opossum from the annual New Year’s Eve Possum Drop at Clay’s Corner.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent an “urgent” letter to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission asking the agency to prevent a live opossum from being the centerpiece of the annual Possum Drop event that draws about 2,000 revelers to Brasstown.

North Carolina law prohibits possession of live wildlife without a permit, said David Perle, senior communications coordinator for PETA.“Using a captive opossum as the centerpiece of a raucous party is cruel and illegal,” he said. However, Clay’s Corner owner Clay Logan said the Possum Drop will go on as usual with “another opossum being honored this year.”

Logan said he has acquired all the necessary permits from the U.S. Wildlife Resources Commission and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“There are no permits that allow a person to hold wildlife in North Carolina,” PETA attorney Brittany Peet said. “They issued a sham permit.”

Peet said North Carolina statutes allow a captivity permit, but not when the animal is to be used for amusement.

“PETA is researching our legal options,” she said. “Brasstown can have a great celebration without using a live animal.”

Suspending an animal for an hour or more above a boisterous crowd, with muskets shot and fireworks, terrifies the animal, Peet said. The cruel event could be avoided by using a stuffed opossum as is done in Tallapoosa, Ga.

Logan said he considers opossums domesticated animals because they are behind every house and trash can.

“If you want one, just open the back door and set out some cat food,” Logan said.

When asked if the opossums used in the Possum Drop have seemed terrified, Logan said, “Absolutely not. When a opossum gets terrified, he sulls or plays dead.”

Peet said Logan is clearly not a wildlife expert. A opossum is terrified if it cowers and trembles under stress. It could even be fatal for the animal.

“We ain’t had one to play dead in 18 years,” Logan said.

Only one year in the 18 years of the event, has a live opossum not been used. They used “road kill” that year, and it wasn’t the same, he said.

Logan said the opossum of honor every year is treated humanely.

“They get the best dog food you can get,” he said. “We talk to them and love them. They hate to leave.”

Logan said he doesn’t go as far as to let the opossum sleep on his bed, but it is housed in a government-approved cage, approved by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

“The ultimate facts are that the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission issued an illegal permit,” Peet said. “It is a blatant violation of North Carolina law.”

The Possum Drop officially begins at 10 p.m. Saturday. But a preliminary event will begin about 9:30 p.m. with a gospel group singing for 15-20 minutes, Logan said.

At 10 p.m. there will be a blessing and the choir from Little Brasstown Baptist Church will sing. The annual womanless beauty pageant, the Miss Possum contest, also will be held.

“They are not men in drag,” Logan said. “They are Southern men dressed up like Southern women. Usually there are about six contestants.”

People can park at Tri-County Community College in Peachtree. Three shuttle buses will take people to and from the event. People are asked to not bring lawn chairs. Free hot chocolate and coffee will be offered along with free hugs at midnight for anyone who doesn’t have someone. Funnel cakes will be available with donations going to the Brasstown Community Center. At midnight, the opossum will be lowered as the apple is lowered in New York City. There will be fireworks, and after the festivities, the opossum will be released back into the wild.

“This is the only New Year’s party you can come to and the next day remember what you did,” Logan said.