For the seventh year in a row, From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro is hosting a Totally Ninja Raccoons event that involves 25 to 30 Wellsboro area businesses and organizations each year.

Those interested in hiding Bigfoot in their buildings during the month of July are asked to contact the bookstore anytime in the month of March. Each location that participates is asked to donate a $25 gift card or an item, valued at $25 as a prize for a hunter to win. 

The 2026 search for Bigfoot will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 1 and end at 5 p.m. Friday, July 31 when all hunters must turn in their passports at From My Shelf Books & Gifts to be eligible for prizes.

Participating locations will have free passports to give out to hunters that need one. The passport lists all the locations where searchers can help the Ninja Raccoons find Bigfoot. 

When a hunter spots Bigfoot, the business will stamp or sign the hunter’s passport. The prize drawing for the winners’ names will be held on Sunday, August 2 with the 28 to 33 prizewinners announced that day. Winners need not be present to win. 

“We want more people, adults and children, to participate in this fun, free event. It gives both locals and tourists of all ages an opportunity to visit Wellsboro area businesses and organizations, see what they have to offer, and have fun doing it with a chance of winning a prize,” said Kasey Cox, bookstore manager.

“The more places that hunters visit, the better their chances of winning one of the three cash prizes, a gift card to a local business or an item,” she said. “No one is required to visit all participating businesses or organizations.” 

A ticket for each location where the hunter has found Bigfoot will be put in the prize jar for the drawing. 

“We are trying to organize the hunt a little sooner so we can promote the prizes that will be available, said Kevin Coolidge. “In addition to the gift cards or items from each business or organization participating this year, there will also be three cash prizes for the first three names drawn. The sponsor of the cash prize has added two more cash prizes this year. The person whose name is drawn first will receive $250 in cash; second, $150 in cash and third, $50 in cash,” Coolidge said.

The hunt is open to both adults and children of all ages from anywhere in the United States and beyond, and is based on the “Totally Ninja Raccoons” action series written by Coolidge for 7- to 10-year-old reluctant readers. The series is about three raccoon brothers who become ninjas.

The hunt for Bigfoot is free to searchers. There is no charge to enter. Each hunter needs one passport to play. The passports are given out free by the participating businesses. 

“The first book in my 10-book series is “The Totally Ninja Raccoons Meet Bigfoot.” said Cooidge. “Because the raccoons’ first ninja mission is to find and capture Bigfoot, Kasey and I thought it would be a neat twist to have businesses hide him.” 

Each participating business or organization in the Wellsboro area hides Bigfoot in their location. The goal is to help the raccoon brothers and the children and adults involved in the hunt to find this elusive critter.

Bigfoot is described as “a mythical, large, hairy, bipedal ape-like creature reported to inhabit forests in North America. Believers describe it as standing 6 to 15 feet tall, often weighing several hundred pounds based on footprint depth, and possessing immense strength.

From My Shelf is an all-service, eclectic, friendly, “old-fashioned”, mom-and-pop owned, independent bookstore. At any time Kevin and Kasey, both natives of  Wellsboro, have over 30,000 books in stock. For more information about the hunt  call the bookstore at 570-724-5793 or visit From My Shelf Books and Gifts on Facebook.