In the tranquil Brailsford Junction, Wisconsin, Sterling North leads a simple life tending to animals while his mother is hospitalized and his brother fights in the war. Living with his father and loyal dog Hauser, Sterling's routine takes a turn when he, accompanied by his friend Oscar and Hauser, embarks on a fishing expedition. During their journey, Hauser's keen nose leads them to a raccoon's nest, revealing an orphaned kit. With the kit's mother tragically slain by a passing hunter for a fur hat, Sterling takes on the responsibility of nurturing the orphaned raccoon. Amidst familial challenges and the backdrop of war, Sterling finds solace and strength in his newfound bond with the mischievous yet endearing Rascal, a captivating companion in his world of upheaval.