Squirrels and Other Fur-Bearers

A gentle walk through autumn woods becomes a lesson in animal ingenuity as the author follows a squirrel’s meticulous harvest of chestnuts. Through lively narrative and vivid, Audubon‑style illustrations, readers watch the clever rodent’s calculated timing, its daring leaps, and even its uncanny ability to glide like a miniature bird. The observations are peppered with amusing encounters—a dog‑chased red squirrel’s graceful parachute‑like descent and a Mexican black squirrel’s astonishing sixty‑foot plunge—bringing the creature’s boldness to life.

Beyond squirrels, the book turns its curious eye to a host of forest denizens: chipmunks, woodchucks, rabbits, muskrats, skunks, foxes, weasels, minks, raccoons, porcupines, opossums, and wild mice. Each chapter blends scientific detail with storytelling, offering clear explanations of habits, habitats, and survival tricks. The result is an engaging, picture‑rich portrait of the secret world thriving just beyond our everyday path.