Expert reveals reason for ‘mutant’ viral raccoon Jimothy’s hunched look – and months-old critter’s chances of survival

EXPERTS have revealed the shocking reason behind viral mutant racoon Jimothy’s hunched appearance. Residents in Seattle were left scratching their heads at the sight of a deformed raccoon traipsing through their backyards. Jimothy the racoon has captured the imagination of Seattle residents Credit: Courtesy of Kiana Hall An expert has revealed the reason behind the peculiar deformity Credit: Instagram However, an expert has now revealed the real reason behind the mutant’s distinctive look. Associate Professor Marcie Logsdon claimed Jimothy was likely suffering from short spine syndrome. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! This is a very rare congenital condition that significantly shortens the length of an animal’s spine. Despite giving Jimothy his unusual appearance, Logsdon said the prognosis was positive. The animal was seen darting across someone’s backyard and up a stone staircase Credit: Instagram Separate footage shows Jimothy expertly squeezing between balcony bars Credit: Reddit “The fact that he’s made it to this age tells me that he’s managing and that he’s adapting,” she said. “I was surprised and honestly a little bit inspired that he’s that resilient.” After carefully reviewing the footage, Logsdon said the racoon was likely born this year, and that its abnormally shortened neck is likely caused by a congenital deformity of the spine. She continued that Jimothy appeared to be functioning well – an excellent sign for his survival chances in the wild. Most read in The Sun Logsdon also urged creeped-out homeowners that Jimothy is now best “left to his own devices”. “Raccoons are amazing because they have done an amazing job at adapting to and sharing urban and suburban areas,” she said. “But respectful sharing needs to remain just that.” Kiana Hall, 33, was enjoying a late-night walk with her partner when she first caught a glimpse of the animal. “I got very confused at what I was seeing. I just have never seen any other animal like it,” she said. Hall was able to deduce the grey-furred creature was a raccoon from its facial marking, but suspected it suffered from some sort of genetic defect. She continued: “I just hope Jimothy continues to live his life freely and I hope he can be healthy.” After publishing footage on social media, it quickly went viral with users reacting with a mixture of shock and amazement. One wrote: “For our 13th anniversary, [we] were graced with the presence of Jimothy the raccoon with short spine syndrome.” The extraordinary creature has now become a regular feature of Seattle subreddits, including popular forum Weird and Creepy. One user wrote: “This is the most Seattle animal possible.” “He needs to be protected at all costs,” another added. Comment now