Seattle's 'No-Neck' Raccoon Jimothy Gains Fame After 1 July 13 Video

Q: Why are wildlife experts urgently warning the public to stay away from the internet's favorite neckless raccoon?

Wildlife experts say people should stay away from Jimothy because he is a wild raccoon with a likely rare spinal deformity, and human attention could do more harm than good. Veterinarians and rehabilitators believe Jimothy may have a congenital condition such as short spine syndrome, which likely explains his neckless look and rolling gait. But experts who reviewed video of him say he appears alert, mobile and able to survive on his own. Because of that, they say he is best left in the wild rather than approached, fed or captured. Their warning is also about safety. Raccoons can bite or scratch if cornered or startled, and like other wild mammals, they can carry diseases. Even well-meaning contact can stress the animal, disrupt its normal behavior and make it dependent on people. Wildlife specialists warn that once animals become habituated to humans, the outcome often turns worse for the animal. That is why residents have been vague about Jimothy’s exact location. Experts from Washington State University and PAWS say the proper response is to admire him from a distance and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator only if he appears clearly injured, suffering or unable to move normally. In their view, the safest and kindest help is to let Jimothy remain wild.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 12

Kiana Hall’s few-second July 13 video of a raccoon under a parked car near her Seattle home turned Jimothy into an internet fixation.
Jimothy stood out because his head appears to sit directly on his shoulders, giving the animal a striking "no-neck" look and an odd, loping gait.
Hall named the raccoon Jimothy after saying he simply looked like one, and the nickname stuck as the clip spread online.
Seattle neighbors are keeping his exact location vague to avoid crowds gathering on street corners for a sighting, underscoring how a fleeting local encounter became a wider online phenomenon.