Raccoon

Daniel Heath Justice (Cherokee Nation) is Professor of Critical Indigenous Studies and English at the University of British Columbia. He is the author of Badger (Reaktion Books, 2015).

"Daniel Heath Justice’s Raccoon is a fascinating and thoughtfully written exploration of its subject in science and culture — and a must-read for anyone like me who is curious about what, for example, Raccoon Mother (our best yard raccoon) is thinking on any given day." - New York Times"[A] deep dive into the biological, taxonomical, historical, and cultural significance of Procyon lotor . . . This is more than just a thorough primer on the nocturnal mammal whose roots can be traced back in the fossil record some thirty million years; it is a nuanced interrogation of the many behaviours, habitats, and characteristics the little guy shares with us . . . Justice leaves little doubt that we see ourselves in raccoons, flattering ourselves as kin to the "seasoned traveller in all worlds" (cue the dapper Porter Airlines mascot). We hold these wily creatures close to our hearts, even while shaking our fists at their evening cavorting through our Dumpsters. We love them and hate them for their resilience, their ingenuity, their pluck. We mark their passing with candles and letters on the side of busy streets – gestures that even a post-ironic world can’t strip of their significance." - Literary Review of Canada"Beautifully written and superbly illustrated, this engaging book traces the history of the ubiquitous masked bandits as a species, as a symbol and as a reflection of our society." - Suzanne MacDonald, Professor of Psychology, York University, Toronto"A wonderful, brilliantly written book about one of my favorite animals. Just such a joy to read – and I learned so much. You’ll never see raccoons the same again. A book I’ll cherish in years to come." - Jeff VanderMeer, NYT-bestselling author of Annihilation