Jimothy (raccoon)
Raccoon and internet meme (born c. 2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jimothy (born est. 2025)[1] is a wild raccoon living in Seattle, Washington, United States. His[a] unusual short, rounded shape, likely the result of a spinal deformity, led to him becoming a viral internet sensation in July 2026.
Cartoonish illustration of Jimothy made by the USGS | |
| Species | Common raccoon |
|---|---|
| Sex | Unknown |
| Born | est. 2025 |
| Known for | Abnormal body shape, internet memes |
History
Animal experts believe Jimothy was born with a spinal deformity reported to be or resemble short spine syndrome, a disorder seen in dogs and, more rarely, other mammals.[3][4] Jimothy is likely healthy for his species and appears to have no issues with mobility or pain.[1][5] His survival with the condition is said to reflect a raccoon mother's care for her kit.[6] Jimothy's sex has not been determined.[2]
After becoming a viral phenomenon in July 2026, residents of Seattle's Ballard neighborhood said that Jimothy had lived in the area for years, with some posting videos claimed to be previously captured footage of him.[7] One user posted footage taken in June 2025 of what appeared to be a very young Jimothy along with his mother and two sibling raccoons.[8]
In July 2026, Seattle resident Kiana Hall encountered the raccoon and posted a video on Instagram, leading to his notoriety.[9] In the video, she referred to him as "Jimothy," later saying "He just looked like a Jimothy to me."[2]
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has urged individuals not to approach the raccoon, which appears healthy without human intervention,[10] while both the Seattle and King County health departments have cautioned that wild raccoons can carry a number of bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted to humans.[11]
As Jimothy's fame grew, residents and wildlife experts questioned whether more than one short-spined raccoon had lived in Ballard over the years, since wild raccoons typically live only three to five years.[12][13] One such raccoon, an older animal nicknamed "Danny DeVito", based on the actor, that some residents suspected might be Jimothy's parent, was filmed rolling across a lawn in August 2025, in footage sometimes mistaken for Jimothy.[14][15]
Viral attention
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Instagram reel from c1vrgr1 (Kiana Hall) that originally led to Jimothy's viral attention |
With Hall's footage posted via Instagram in July 2026, Jimothy became what The Seattle Times called a "scrappy hometown hero", and went viral as an internet meme with worldwide attention and millions of views.[16][17] His appearance has been compared to that of a cryptid, contributing to interest in the raccoon.[18]
Tributes to Jimothy include tattoos, a mural, an honorary degree from the University of Washington,[7] and recognition by the Seattle City Council.[4][10] ArenaNet added Jimothy as an NPC and pet in Guild Wars 2, in part through Hall's spouse who is a developer on the game.[19][20] Blizzard Entertainment posted a tribute to Jimothy on social media rendering him in the style of World of Warcraft; Jagex made a similar tribute post in the style of Old School RuneScape.[21] D&D Beyond released a Dungeons & Dragons stat block of Jimothy for use in the tabletop role-playing game.[22] Modders have created add-ons involving Jimothy to The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Stardew Valley.[23] A bobblehead manufacturer made available a Jimothy statuette, with proceeds donated to an animal rescue charity.[24] By July 22, Jimothy was made the subject of an easter egg on Google Search; upon searching his name, users are greeted with an animation of him running across the screen.[25][26] Jimothy is included on Roku screensavers.[27] The Seattle Mariners announced a "Jimothy Night" for their home game against the Detroit Tigers on August 5, featuring giveaways of an exclusive "Jimothy Rookie Card" and a t-shirt, with a portion of sales used to support the Ballard food bank.[28]
Some entrepreneurs have attempted to apply for intellectual property ownership around Jimothy, though from a U.S. legal standpoint, Jimothy has no legal owner and thus no one can claim rights to him.[29]
Notes
See also
- Conrad (raccoon)
- Moo Deng, a hippopotamus that gained online popularity in 2024
- Punch (monkey)