Seattle’s oddball raccoon Jimothy becomes a local celebrity

A raccoon spotted under a parked car in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood has become the city’s latest internet darling, with fans turning him into a meme, mascot and public-service star.

The animal, named Jimothy by Seattle resident Kiana Hall, first drew attention after Hall posted a short Instagram video from July 13. Hall told TODAY.com she had been walking with her husband when she noticed movement beneath a car and initially thought she was looking at a cat.

Then the animal stepped out with a raccoon’s masked face and an unusually compact body. Hall said the name came on instinct: “He just looked like a ‘Jimothy’ to me.”

A raccoon with a very Seattle fan club

The video spread fast, collecting millions of views and sending Ballard residents back through their camera rolls for possible earlier sightings. Online admirers have called him “King Jimothy,” “Saint Jimothy” and Seattle’s “sweet prince,” while “Hot Jimothy Summer” has become the running slogan.

Jimothy’s shape is part of the fascination. He appears to have a shortened torso and neck, giving him a rounded, compressed look. Marcie Logsdon, an associate professor at Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, told The Seattle Times his build is likely caused by a congenital spinal deformity.

Some reports have described the condition as short spine syndrome, which can involve shortened or compressed vertebrae. Jimothy has not been examined by a veterinarian, so no diagnosis has been confirmed from the videos.

Logsdon told The Seattle Times that Jimothy appears able to walk, climb, find food and move around on his own. She said the fact that he has survived to his current age suggests he is coping and adapting.

One Instagram user, Ben Trammell, shared clips he said may show a younger Jimothy living near cedar trees with a raccoon family. In his caption, Trammell said the animal’s mother and siblings appeared patient and sometimes helped or carried him when he struggled to keep up.

Murals, tattoos and a ballpark cameo

Jimothy tributes have quickly spilled beyond phone screens. Artist Andrew Miller painted a mural of the raccoon, and Matt Inman, the cartoonist behind The Oatmeal, posted a police-sketch-style drawing of him. Seattle’s Reddit community also gathered Jimothy artwork, crafts and memes into a dedicated thread.

Some fans have gone for ink. Laura Exley, owner of Electric Kitten Tattoo in Ballard, told Fox43 that three customers had booked Jimothy tattoos by July 18, with at least 10 more contacting the studio. A Tacoma tattoo artist also offered discounted Jimothy designs.

Local institutions joined in. The Seattle Public Library posted Jimothy-themed book recommendations, the University of Washington gave him a playful honorary doctorate, and the Seattle Mariners briefly changed a social media profile image to show the raccoon wearing a team cap.

The Mariners also brought a costumed Jimothy to T-Mobile Park during the July 18 game against the San Francisco Giants. He joined the seventh-inning Salmon Run, a stadium race featuring four oversized fish, and beat them all.

Seattle was trailing 3-0 at the time and had gone 15 straight innings in the series without scoring. After the mascot race, Cole Young hit a three-run homer to tie the game, and the Mariners later won 4-3 in extra innings on a Julio Rodríguez sacrifice fly. Fans jokingly gave Jimothy credit for the comeback.

Officials say admire him from a distance

Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck plans to mark “Jimothy Summer” at a community event on July 26 in Bergen Place Park near the Ballard Farmers Market. The gathering may include an art competition.

The Washington State Department of Transportation used Jimothy in a litter message, warning that roadside trash can pull raccoons and other animals into traffic. The agency said it spends about $17 million a year cleaning highway litter and removed 726 tons from state roads in 2025.

Wildlife officials are also asking fans to keep their enthusiasm hands-off. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has told people not to approach, capture, pet or feed Jimothy, saying he appears to be getting around and finding food successfully.

The Washington State Department of Health wrote on Threads that Jimothy poses “zero health risk” as long as people do not try to pet, cuddle or feed him. Officials advise residents to secure garbage, keep pet food indoors and avoid encouraging raccoons to get comfortable around people.

This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.