Jimothy raccoon Congress push asks Seattle to guard viral critter
Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett urged Seattle’s mayor to protect Jimothy after the raccoon went viral for his rare look.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Jimothy raccoon Congress chatter is now a real thing: Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett have asked Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson to help shield the city’s newly famous raccoon, according to TMZ.
TMZ reported that it reviewed a letter from Luna and Burchett to Wilson warning that Jimothy’s sudden internet fame could bring unwanted attention from people who might try to harm him or interfere with his normal life as a city raccoon.
The request is unusually specific. According to TMZ, the lawmakers want Seattle officials to involve Jimothy in community carnivore monitoring efforts, including platforms for reporting sightings and databases that track where he is seen, how he appears to be doing and what the letter described as his “general mischief.”
Why is Congress talking about Jimothy the raccoon?
Jimothy became an online favorite after images and video of the Seattle raccoon spread because of his short, rounded shape. A post by Complex on X said the animal was going viral for his unusual appearance, with video credited to the Instagram account @c1vrgr1.
TMZ reported that Jimothy is believed to have short spine syndrome, an extremely rare condition that compresses the spinal column. The condition is the apparent reason for the compact look that made him stand out online.
Luna and Burchett, both Republicans, are asking Seattle to treat that attention as a safety issue, according to TMZ’s account of the letter. Their concern is that curiosity-seekers could crowd the areas where Jimothy moves, disturbing him or making him easier to target.
What are Luna and Burchett asking Seattle to do?
The lawmakers want signs and neighborhood outreach in places where Jimothy is known to appear, TMZ reported. The goal is to tell residents and fans how to keep their distance while still helping officials know whether the raccoon is safe.
They also want the city to use local wildlife-tracking tools to monitor sightings and welfare. Community carnivore monitoring programs generally rely on residents, researchers or local officials to record where urban wildlife is spotted so patterns and possible risks can be watched over time.
The letter also adds a bit of Capitol Hill comedy to the critter case. Luna and Burchett acknowledged that they do not share much political ground with Wilson, a Democrat, but said protecting one “small, resourceful, and cute raccoon” should be a bipartisan cause, according to TMZ.
No action by Seattle officials was reported by TMZ. For now, Jimothy remains a viral raccoon with a congressional fan club, a rare condition and a growing crowd of people watching to see whether City Hall steps in.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.