Customer Reviews

Raccoons on the Roof (Animal Ark Series #21)

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In Raccoons On The Roof, Mandy Hope visits friends of the family in Florida, and is exposed to alligators, canoes, and raccoons. She is thrilled to find there is a family of raccoons living near her, but dismayed that the neighbors see these raccoons as dangerous pests.

"'Folks think they're greedy and dirty. They can carry disease, so some people treat them as a serious nuisance. They don't like them near their houses. A lot of people try to get rid of them'" (p. 24).

""I think that the Millers have set traps to catch the raccoons,' Mandy pointed out. She intended to keep on feeding them and encouraging them to use the run, come what may. 'But the raccoons are great, Grandpa. They were here long before people came and settled. And they're really clever. I saw one open a screwtop jar the other day. Honestly!'" (p. 73).

Mandy becomes friends with the neighbor's daughter, Courtney. They both want to protect the raccoons. But when Courtney's dad hears raccoons on his roof, he decides to take action.

"'He picked up the phone and dialed a company called Verkil, told them he's overrun by raccoons. He asked them to bring traps and poison'" (p. 101-102).

"She told them that the men were out there now setting traps on the ground and baiting them. 'How many traps?' Mandy asked. Courtney shrugged. 'Five or six, I guess. These guys come back every morning to see if they... have caught anything!' Her hesitation gave them a chance to picture what would happen: an animal smelling the bait, creeping toward the trap, then click! A lever would send its steel jaws crashing down onto the innocent victim. A broken leg at the very least; perhaps a slow bleeding to death" (p. 109-110).

What happens to the raccoons? And what happens to Courtney and Mandy when Courtney's father finds that they want to protect the raccoons, not eliminate them?

Author Ben Baglio addresses issues relating to wildlife feeding, wildlife rehabilitation, trapping, ethics, friendship, and living with wildlife in this book for 3-6 graders. I doubt that any "Verkil" company would place leghold traps in a lawn; cage traps are the traps du jour. And any handling of raccoons in Florida need to bring up the very real possibility of rabies, which is a real concern. According to the Florida Department of Health, "The raccoon is the primary rabies virus reservoir in Florida, though any mammal can catch the disease. Public health authorities perform rabies testing on animals that bite people or other animals."

This book will make the reader more sensitive to raccoon management around homes. The alternative to trapping, by the way, is habitat manipulation and exclusion.

"Raccoons on the Roof" is a griping book. It is because bad things happen that makes you want to read on and turn the page. I know this because it really made me want to read on! I almost cried when one of the bad things happened because I love animals so much. Read the next paragraph to read what the book is about.
Mandy Hope a girl who wants to be a vet finds a mom and baby raccoon on the roof. Then some people find out. And now want to kill them! Now Mandy and a few friends have to get the raccoons away from danger before on e the raccoons get hurt! Read this book to find out if the raccoons live!

Raccoons on the Roof is really good. It is all about that Mandy meets two raccoons and one of them mother other baby. The mothers name is Rita the baby's is Rickey. And she tries to save them from traps put by the nextdoors girl's father, When Rickey gets caght he has been wounded and then Mandy saves him by bringing him to the vet. Later the girl gets wounded too, But she wants to see Rickey. Later she becomes better and she gets to see Rickey. But she brings her father along so that he can see how important animals really are. And finally he sees how important they really are and puts the traps away. My opinion is that children 6+ can read it.