SEATTLE (TNND) — Jimothy, the unusually shaped raccoon in Seattle that has become an internet sensation, may not be the only wild animal with a rare spinal deformity roaming the city, wildlife experts reportedly said.
Jimothy is Seattle’s unofficial mascot after video of the raccoon was shared on social media.
The raccoon, believed to have short spine syndrome, has captivated millions online after videos showed the compact-bodied animal scurrying through Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The congenital condition causes vertebrae to fuse or fail to develop normally, giving affected animals shortened necks and tails and curved backs.
As Jimothy’s fame has grown, longtime residents have reportedly shared older photos and videos of similarly shaped raccoons, prompting speculation that more than one short-spined raccoon may live in the area.
Jimothy the raccoon may have other short-spined friends, wildlife experts say (Screenshot from video courtesy of JONAS H via CNN Newsource)
“There’s posts now that say that he was born a year ago, and then other people with posts that saw him in 2017,” Rebecca Sorenson, who owns a business in Ballard, told FOX 13 Seattle earlier this week. “I’m curious now if there are more than one?”
According to the media outlet, experts said the theory is plausible. Wild raccoons typically live three to five years, making it unlikely the same animal has been appearing in neighborhood sightings stretching back nearly a decade.
Wendi Mallo, an animal keeper at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, told FOX 13 Seattle the condition is extremely rare, but praised Jimothy’s apparent health and resilience.
“I’m amazed at how well he’s done and I’m amazed at the magic that’s in our own backyards,” she said, per the outlet. “I think that it’s a nice little wakeup call for us to kind of notice what’s back there and pay attention.”
Mallo said it’s hard to say whether Jimothy has lived exceptionally long or if here could be multiple raccoons with a similar condition.
“But who knows? There’s magic in the wild. We’ve just got to look for it,” she told the outlet, while also encouraging people to appreciate the beloved raccoon from a distance.
Jimothey was named by the Seattle woman who shared pictures of him with outlets, as she said she thinks he just looks like a Jimothy.
The raccoon’s viral fame has inspired fan art, merchandise, tattoos, and even a Seattle Mariners tribute, turning the unlikely creature into one of the city’s newest folk heroes.
Meanwhile, Google is jumping on the “Jimothy” bandwagon. If you Google “Jimothy,” you’ll see an animated Jimothy run across the screen. A paw icon also appears at the bottom of the page — and if you click that, he runs across the screen again.
Jimothy the raccoon may have other short-spined friends, wildlife experts say (Video: CNN Newsource)
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EDITOR’S NOTE: CNN Newsource contributed to this report.