The Brief
- Jimothy, Ballard’s viral short-spined raccoon, has sparked worldwide attention—and questions about whether there may be more than one.
- Wildlife experts say raccoons typically live only three to five years in the wild, making Jimothy’s reported sightings over many years unusual.
- Experts urge fans to admire Jimothy from a distance and avoid feeding or approaching the wild animal.
EATONVILLE, Wash. – A raccoon known as “Jimothy” has become an internet sensation after videos of the short-spined animal roaming Ballard neighborhoods spread around the world.
But as his popularity has grown, so have questions about his story, including whether the same raccoon has been spotted for years, or if there could be more than one animal with a similar spinal deformity.
Viral fame raises questions
Rebecca Sorenson, owner of Ballard Clay, said the raccoon’s growing online following has led to conflicting claims about his history.
“There’s posts now that say that he was born a year ago and then other people with posts that saw him in 2017,” she told FOX 13. “I’m curious now if there are more than one?”…