Humans have despoiled Come Along Slough's habitat, endangering the survival of the animals who live there. Food is scarce. In an effort to fight chronic hunger, a shaky alliance of carnivores and herbivores creates a governmental body called the United Slough of Animals. The USA imposes strict eating quotas, but Coyote and Elrod the Stoat are shameless scofflaws and don't want Big Government meddling with their natural right to eat their fill of Rabbits. Only "trickle down gastronomics" works for them. Owl, Muskrat, River Otter, Crow, Raccoon, Hummingbird, Squib Dog, and many other animals try to respect the rules, but after the Rats invade Come Along Slough, the USA slides into deeper crisis.