Seattle may need to prepare for the possibility of multiple Jimothys — Jimothies? Jimothem? Jimothi? The internet has not yet settled on the plural.The unusually shaped raccoon became an internet celebrity after footage of him walking through the city’s Ballard neighborhood went viral. But as residents continue sharing possible sightings — including some they claim date back to 2017 — wildlife experts are questioning whether every round raccoon caught on camera is actually the same animal.
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Jimothy first captured widespread attention after Seattle resident Kiana Hall encountered him during a walk through Ballard on July 13. Hall initially mistook the animal beneath a parked car for a cat, then started recording when the creature emerged with the masked face of a raccoon and a noticeably shortened torso and neck. She named him Jimothy because, as she later explained to Today, he simply looked like one.
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The brief video accumulated millions of views and made Jimothy an almost immediate Seattle celebrity. Fans declared it “Hot Jimothy Summer” and created memes, murals, tattoos, and merchandise in his honor, while local organizations joined in with government PSAs and an honorary doctorate from the University of Washington. A costumed Jimothy even defeated four oversized fish during the Seattle Mariners’ seventh-inning Salmon Run. Google has even joined in on the fun — if you look up "Jimothy" or "Jimothy the raccoon" in the search box, an animation of Jimothy will scurry across your screen. Experts believe his unusual appearance may be caused by a congenital spinal deformity resembling short spine syndrome, although he has not been examined by a veterinarian and does not have a confirmed diagnosis. Despite his compressed build, videos show him walking, climbing, finding food, and independently navigating the neighborhood.
