Jimothy, the Seattle raccoon whose unusual appearance has made him an internet sensation, may have an extremely rare condition that Washington State University wildlife veterinarians say they’ve never seen before. His popularity, they say, is also a reminder that the best way to care about wild animals is to admire them from a distance.
While thousands have fallen in love with the raccoon and his uncommon appearance, WSU wildlife veterinarian Dr. Marcie Logsdon said the attention surrounding Jimothy is also an opportunity to reiterate that the best way to help any wild animal is to let it remain wild.
“Wild animals don’t understand internet fame,” Logsdon said. “What they do understand is when people get too close, offer food or alter their natural behavior. If people really care about Jimothy, the greatest kindness they can show is to admire him from a respectful distance.”
Behind the growing social media fan base is a remarkable story of wildlife adaptation and acceptance.
Wild animals don’t understand internet fame. … If people really care about Jimothy, the greatest kindness they can show is to admire him from a respectful distance.
Dr. Marcie Logsdon, wildlife veterinarian
Washington State University
Jimothy is believed to have short spine syndrome, an extremely rare congenital condition that causes the vertebrae to be compressed, resulting in a shortened body and limited neck movement. The condition has been documented in only a handful of wild animals worldwide, making Jimothy’s apparent ability to survive into adulthood especially remarkable. While the syndrome can limit mobility, animals that successfully adapt can sometimes live for years if they avoid predators, find adequate food and remain free from unnecessary human interference.
Logsdon said even well-intentioned actions like approaching an animal for a closer look can create lasting problems. Habituated wildlife can lose their natural fear of people, “and that never ends well for the animal,” Logsdon said.
At WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Logsdon and her team care for hundreds of injured and orphaned wild animals each year, from hawks and owls to foxes, deer, squirrels and raccoons.
Neither Logsdon, nor her colleague Dr. Nickol Finch, has ever seen a case of short spine syndrome in a raccoon, or any wild animal for that matter. The genetic mutation is also extremely rare in dogs.
WSU is one of only a handful of permitted wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Eastern Washington and the only 24-hour wildlife rehabilitation service east of the Cascade Mountains that accepts wildlife, providing specialized medical care with the goal of returning healthy animals to the wild.
As the demand for wildlife care continues to grow, Jimothy’s case is an opportunity to encourage Washington residents to support permitted wildlife rehabilitators in their community. The state faces an ongoing shortage of licensed rehabilitators, especially in Eastern Washington, leaving a small number of facilities to care for hundreds of orphaned and injured animals each year. These facilities ensure that wild animals in need can receive professional care, and almost all wildlife facilities depend on support from the public.
For Logsdon, Jimothy’s popularity represents a rare opportunity to teach the public about coexisting with wildlife.
“It’s wonderful that people are excited about wildlife,” she said. “If Jimothy inspires more people to appreciate the animals living around them, that’s a positive outcome. We just hope that appreciation comes with respect, patience and enough distance to allow wild animals to stay wild.”
