Seattle's Viral Raccoon Jimothy Gets Death Threats: Fan Page Urges Fans Never to Share His Location
On November 8, the Facebook fan page for Jimothy, the viral raccoon living in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood in Washington state, posted that as many as four people had issued death threats and death wishes against the raccoon in the past week, and urged everyone never to share his exact location. According to FOX 13 Seattle and KIRO 7, the page wrote: "Please NEVER share Jimothy's exact location! Not in posts, not in comments, not in videos, nowhere."
Among the threats the page cited, one person wrote that seeing Jimothy fed to a coyote would "bring me joy," and another wrote that it was time to put Jimothy "out of his misery." The page's administrator said the second comment had been reported to law enforcement. "Whether these psychopaths are truly violent or more of the 'edgelord' kind, it doesn't matter," the administrator wrote. "I'm not taking any chances with people who are comfortable to say things like this on a public forum."
Jimothy became an internet sensation in July. Seattle resident Kiana Hall filmed him during an evening walk on July 13 and posted the clip to Instagram on July 14; it drew more than 8.3 million views in 11 days. His body is round and compact, with almost no visible neck. Veterinarians who reviewed the footage believe he was likely born with short spine syndrome, a rare condition that compresses the vertebrae and makes his torso far shorter than a typical raccoon's. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has said he appears healthy, able to move and feed himself, and should be left alone.
Animal keeper Wendi Mallo told FOX 13 that urban raccoons already face dangers including cars and dogs, and encouraged people to admire wildlife from a distance rather than approaching or feeding it. After this week's threats, that advice carries a new meaning: the most practical thing Jimothy's fans can do for him is to keep his home hidden.
Source: Jimothy the Raccoon fan page on Facebook
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：普通浣熊资料图（Steven Pavlov摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经Wikimedia Commons），画面中不是Jimothy本人，已裁为精确16:9。/ A common raccoon (file photo by Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons); the animal pictured is not Jimothy. Pre-cropped to an exact 16:9 frame.
