Successful 19th century applejack salesman Jean Kayak finds himself in a precarious situation when disaster strikes his orchard. It all begins when a mischievous beaver gnaws on one of the support beams of a massive keg, causing it to roll uncontrollably into his fireplace, resulting in a devastating explosion. After this catastrophic event, Jean awakens to a harsh winter, grappling with the struggles of survival as he repeatedly attempts to capture food, only to be met with failure.
In his pursuit, he stumbles upon a group of industrious beavers who are busy collecting logs for building a structure. Feeling somewhat bold, he attacks a couple of them but quickly learns that these creatures are more than capable of defending themselves. In a desperate attempt for sustenance, Jean resorts to a unique method of fishing—he makes his fingers bleed to use as lures, and when he finally manages to sell the fish to a local merchant, he observes the remarkable profits being made by a nearby fur trapper.
With his modest earnings, Jean buys a knife and ingeniously transforms his shirt into makeshift rope. His next epiphany comes when he discovers that rabbits utilize a complex tunnel system. In his determination, he rigs a trap at an exit with his rope, attempting to lure them in. Unfortunately, before he can reap the rewards, cunning raccoons swipe his hard-earned catches. Not to be defeated, Jean devises another plan, cutting up his pants to hoist the rabbits out of reach. In this series of misadventures, he captures a raccoon and encounters a Native American who trades him snowshoes for his precious knife. From there, the merchant's daughter skins the raccoon, crafting clothing for Jean—furthering his journey into a world that demands cunning and adaptability.
Tragedy strikes when Jean breaks his leg after falling into a trapper's pit. Fortunately, the trapper himself rescues him and recognizes potential in Jean, taking him under his wing as a protege. However, darkness looms as wolves begin to decimate the trapper's dogs, and during a fully-fledged attack, the trapper entrusts Jean with his prized trapping guide, only to face his own demise at the jaws of the pack. In a desperate bid for survival and revenge, Jean erases the previous guide, and with newfound resolve, he begins to document his own experiences, mastering the art of trapping in his surrounding wilderness. He skillfully sells his catches to the merchant while trading with the Native community for superior gear.
Amidst this, Jean and the merchant's daughter develop a budding romance, but the merchant sets a daunting challenge for their union: he demands a staggering number of beavers for her hand. Adding a whimsical element to the plot, a pair of beavers inspired by Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson begin their own investigation into Jean's traps, creating a delightful mixture of tension and humor.
Jean's journey takes a dark turn as he uncovers the wolves' hideout, discovering they are hoarding a large number of the trapper's beaver carcasses. When the beaver detectives report their findings back, they rally their community and descend upon Jean. Using clever tactics, he lures them into the wolves' lair and cleverly seals the entrance with icicles, thus orchestrating a gruesome slaughter of the beaver squadron. In a twist of fate, he returns to the merchant's cabin only to find it’s a cardboard cutout cleverly crafted by the detectives, who proceed to take the bodies away for burial.
With his fate hanging in the balance, Jean infiltrates the beaver dam but is ultimately captured and put on trial for his actions against their kind. Found guilty, he faces a grim punishment—to be skinned and fashioned into a coat, a fate that echoes the trapper’s demise. In a moment of sheer will and desperation, Jean manages to escape his bonds and fights back against those who seek to end him. In the chaos, he stumbles upon the beavers constructing a rocket ship from one of his kegs. Inadvertently, he sends one beaver into the rocket, which malfunctions and careens off course, leading to a catastrophic flood that ultimately breaks the dam, giving rise to what is now known as Green Bay.
In a climactic turn of events, Jean utilizes a bundle of beaver bodies, cleverly fashioned into a massive snowball, riding it as the beavers attempt to chase him down. The Native, showcasing impressive marksmanship, launches a grappling arrow onto the rocket to steer it towards the beavers, successfully detonating the wooden figure they’d constructed. Finally, the snowball composed of countless beaver pelts halts at the merchant's cabin, leading to an unexpected resolution: Jean is granted permission to marry the merchant’s daughter, sealing his journey from misfortune to triumph amidst an ensemble of quirky characters and unforeseen obstacles.
