A Native American legend tells how the raccoon acquired a wonderful, but costly gift.  A raccoon can tell exactly when a persimmon is ripe to eat.  A very important skill, for if the fruit is picked one day too early, they are sour enough to pucker one's mouth, picked a day too late and they are too mushy to eat.

According to legend, a man was called by the Great Spirit to take a journey.  He was told to leave at once. The Great Spirit explained to the man that this was a journey of the spirit and not the body.  He must not stop to eat or drink until the task was completed.

This particular man was, unfortunately, not quite ready for such a spiritual journey, for when he came to a grove of persimmon trees, he could see that the fruit was perfect for eating.  He could not resist the temptation.  The man stopped and ate till he could eat no more.

The Great Spirit was furious.  He told the man he would never complete the journey because he had disobeyed.  The Great Spirit told the man that he would spend the rest of his days scurrying around the earth as a small, furry creature.  The man begged and pleaded for forgiveness, but the Great Spirit remained firm.  He turned the man into a raccoon.  An animal that leaves footprints like a human, uses his hands like a man, and has the ability to always know when the persimmons are just right for picking.

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