A veterinary expert says the young raccoon appears to be thriving in the wild
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A wild raccoon with a spine deformity, nicknamed Jimothy, went viral after a Seattle resident’s video gained over 5 million views
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Experts believe Jimothy’s appearance is due to a rare spinal deformity the animal was born with, but say he is adapting well
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Fans online compared Jimothy to mythical creatures while wildlife experts advise leaving him to thrive in his natural habitat
A tiny raccoon with an unusually round body and shortened neck has become an internet sensation after a Seattle resident’s brief cellphone video racked up millions of views.
According to The Seattle Times, Kiana Hall spotted the animal while walking with her partner near the Ballard Goodwill around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13. Thinking she had seen a cat beneath a parked car, Hall pulled out her phone to record. Instead, she watched a small gray animal emerge from the shadows.
“I got very confused at what I was seeing,” Hall told the newspaper. “I just have never seen any other animal like it.”
The creature, smaller than a house cat and uniquely round, waddled across a patch of grass before climbing a staircase and disappearing over a fence. Hall later posted the five-second clip to Instagram, affectionately naming the raccoon “Jimothy.”
Within hours, the video exploded online, amassing more than 5 million views. Soon afterward, another Ballard resident recognized the oddly shaped raccoon from security camera footage recorded the previous month and shared additional video on social media, where commenters compared Jimothy to mythical creatures like the chupacabra.
Despite Jimothy’s unconventional appearance, wildlife experts say Jimothy appears to be doing well.
Marcie Logsdon, an associate professor at Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, reviewed the videos and told the outlet that while she could not diagnose the raccoon without an examination, his shortened neck is likely the result of a congenital spinal deformity.
The condition resembles what is sometimes referred to as short spine syndrome, a rare congenital disorder documented in dogs and, more rarely, other animals, in which the vertebrae compress or fuse, resulting in a shortened body or neck. Because so few cases have been reported in wildlife, experts cannot confidently say whether Jimothy has the condition based on video alone.
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Still, Logsdon said the young raccoon appears remarkably agile. “The fact that he’s made it to this age tells me that he’s managing and that he’s adapting,” she noted. “I was surprised and honestly a little bit inspired that he’s that resilient.”
She added that Jimothy is likely best left alone, noting that raccoons have become highly adept at adapting to urban environments. “Raccoons are amazing because they have done an amazing job at adapting to and sharing urban and suburban areas,” Logsdon explained, “but respectful sharing needs to remain just that.”
Hall added that she is delighted the little raccoon has brought smiles to so many people.
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“I think times have been hard for everyone, so I’m really happy to have posted something online that reaches so many people and makes them so happy,” she shared. “I just hope [Jimothy] continues to live his life freely and I hope he can be healthy.”
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