A young Canadian farm boy, Juttner has no use for people; in fact, he seems to communicate better with animals. He tries to spend as much time as possible with his furry friends. His parents realize this could eventually become a problem, but don't have the heart to take away Benjy's seemingly only pleasure. The boy befriends a badger, and when the animal disappears, Benjy sets out to find his friend. In the course of his search, Benjy gets trapped in a raging river and winds up being carried far from his home. His quest for survival and finding his way back dominate the bigger part of the film.