Jimothy, the raccoon whose unusual appearance turned him into a Seattle celebrity, is now facing a darker side of fame: his own Facebook page says he has received death threats from people who once seemed to adore him. The page reported that as many as four individuals issued death threats or death wishes against Jimothy within the past week, and it is urging fans to keep his location secret to protect him.
According to KIRO 7 News Seattle, the Facebook page posted a direct plea to followers: “Please NEVER share Jimothy’s exact location!” The page administrator said one threatening comment had already been reported to law enforcement, explaining, “I’m not taking any chances with people who are comfortable to say things like this.” The warning does not specify who made the threats or whether any further action followed, but it reflects real concern from the people closest to the raccoon’s online following.
Jimothy’s fame began modestly during the summer, when someone posted a video of the raccoon running through a backyard. The clip quickly went viral as viewers tried to understand why the animal looked so different from a typical raccoon, and the attention has only grown since. A veterinarian who reviewed that original footage told MyNorthwest the animal appeared to have a congenital condition known as short spine syndrome, a rare disorder documented in other mammals. Wildlife officials who examined the footage said Jimothy still appeared capable of walking, climbing, and finding food on his own.
From Backyard Clip to National Mascot
By mid-July, the video that introduced Jimothy to the world had racked up more than 10 million views across social media, per KUOW. Washington State University veterinary professor Marcie Logsdon told the station his appearance suggested he was likely born earlier this year, and she cautioned fans against seeking him out, saying the animal is better off being “left to his own devices.” That advice didn’t slow the hype; OPB reported Jimothy had already become the subject of clothing merchandise, artwork, and slogans like “hot Jimothy summer.”
The station’s report notes online commenters have even compared Jimothy to Bigfoot and the chupacabra, a sign of just how much mythology has grown around one Ballard raccoon. His celebrity status has translated into real-world honors too: Jimothy has landed his own bobblehead, a Roku City cameo, a video game, a city proclamation, and even a shoutout from NASA.
Spotted Again in Ballard
Jimothy was spotted again in Ballard in October, this time caught on a KIRO 7 Facebook video walking across a fence between two houses before settling on a rooftop. Seattle residents have reported seeing him wandering across backyard decks, drinking from a dog’s water bowl, and sitting in neighborhood trees, the kind of casual sightings that have made him feel like a true local character rather than a distant internet curiosity.
That familiarity appears to be part of the problem now. The same qualities that made Jimothy lovable, his visibility and his unmistakable silhouette, have also made him easy to target, which is why the page behind him is asking fans to help keep his whereabouts private. KUOW separately noted a past case in Poulsbo where about 100 raccoons swarmed a woman’s house after she began feeding them, a reminder that human attention toward wildlife, even well-meaning, can spiral in unpredictable directions.
A Community Watching Closely
For now, Jimothy’s supporters seem focused on damage control rather than celebration. The Facebook page’s warning suggests his caretakers believe the threat, however limited in scope, is serious enough to involve law enforcement and to ask tens of thousands of followers to stay quiet about where he roams. Reporting on this story was contributed by Luke Duecy, a KIRO Newsradio contributor, alongside KIRO 7 News Seattle writer Julia Dallas.
