Who is Jimmy? Seattle’s beloved raccoon, he explained

A strange raccoon from Seattle has become the internet’s new darling.

Since appearing in a short video filmed in the Ballard neighborhood of the city, Jimothy has amassed millions of views and inspired murals, tattoos, merchandise, government public service announcements, a city announcement, and a surprise appearance at a Seattle Mariners game.

Online, fans have elevated him to “King Jimmy,” “Saint Jimmy,” and “sweet prince.” “Hot Jimothy Summer,” a play on “hot girl summer” by Megan Thee Stallion, has become an unofficial slogan surrounding the oddly shaped animal.

Jimothy’s sudden rise to fame began with one logical question: What exactly are we looking at?

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

Meet Jimothy, Seattle’s oddly shaped raccoon

Kiana Hall met Jimothy while walking with her husband through Ballard on July 13.

Hall initially thought the animal walking under the parked car was a cat and pulled out his phone to get a better look. Then came the familiar masked face of a raccoon and a very unusual body shape.

Hall posted the video on Instagram and named the raccoon Jimothy, a decision based less on complex history than immediate emotion.

“He just looked ‘Jimothy’ to me,” Hall told TODAY.com. “I have no other explanation than to look at him like Jimothy.”

The name stands. The video gained millions of views, while people around Ballard began sharing their photos of the unique raccoon, which has become an accepted sight in the area.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

Jimothy has a remarkably short body and neck, giving him a round, compressed appearance that first caught Hall’s attention. Marcie Logsdon, associate professor at Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, said. The Seattle Times that his build is probably the result of a congenital spinal deformity.

Some reports have identified this condition as short spine syndrome (SSS), which can cause the vertebrae to be shortened or compressed. Jimothy has not yet been examined by a veterinarian; therefore, no diagnosis is guaranteed based on videos alone.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

Despite his unusual build, he seems to be able to walk, climb, find food, and move around independently.

“His success over the years tells me he’s capable and he’s getting used to it,” added Logsdon. “I was surprised and honestly a little encouraged that he’s strong.”

The video also inspired Ballard residents to dig out their cameras. One user, Ben Trammell, shared videos with captions that he believed showed little Jimothy living with a family of raccoons in nearby cedar trees. He went on to say that Jimothy’s mother and siblings seemed to tolerate him, sometimes helping him or carrying him when he had trouble keeping up with him.

“Jimmy’s Summer”

The clips spread from individual Instagram accounts to all social media platforms, including Reddit, where users began collecting potential sightings, old videos, fan art, memes, and updates. A dedicated r/JimothyRaccoon community sprung up within days, while commenters called him “Hot Jimmy Summer,” called him “the coolest Seattle animal possible,” and urged people to protect him “anywhere.”

As his online following grew, tributes began to appear around Seattle. Artist Andrew Miller painted the portrait of Jimothy, and Matt Inman, the cartoonist in the background Oatmeal,he drew him in the style of a police sketch “in case the police need it.” Fans also share drawings, crafts, memes, merchandise, and other artwork featuring the raccoon, generating enough posts that Seattle’s subreddit created a megathread dedicated to Jimothy’s arts and crafts.

Some prefer to choose a permanent charge. Laura Exley, owner of Electric Kitten Tattoo in Ballard, said three customers had booked Jimothy’s tattoos by July 18, and at least 10 others had contacted the studio. The Tacoma tattoo artist also offered Jimothy’s tattoos at a discount and told customers they didn’t have to use the artist’s original design.

Local organizations quickly joined the online response. The Seattle Public Library shared recommendations for Jimothy’s themed book, the University of Washington awarded him an honorary doctorate (“Dr. Jimothy”), and the Seattle Mariners temporarily changed their social media profile picture to show a raccoon wearing a team cap.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

The Mariners then brought Jimmy into T-Mobile Park. During the team’s July 18 game against the San Francisco Giants, a decorated raccoon version joined the traditional seventh-inning Salmon Run, in which fish over four sizes race around the field (Jimothy defeated all four).

Time only adds to the joke, though. Seattle entered the seventh inning trailing 3-0 and had gone 15 consecutive scoreless innings in the series. Shortly after Jimothy’s victory, Cole Young hit a three-run home run to tie the game, and the Mariners went on to win 4-3 in extra innings on Julio Rodríguez’s sacrifice fly.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

Fans jokingly credited Jimmy for encouraging the comeback. Whatever role he has played, he is still undefeated in the professional mascot race.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

Offline, Seattle City Council Member Alexis Mercedes Rinck plans to commemorate “Jimothy Summer” during a public event at noon on July 26 at Bergen Place Park, near the Ballard Farmers Market. The gathering may also include an art contest featuring many of Jimothy’s creations that have appeared since his video was posted.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has found a very useful role for the round raccoon. In a garbage letter titled Jimothy, the agency reminded drivers that “garbage belongs in the trash can, not in the median,” and warned that curbside trash can attract raccoons and other wildlife. WSDOT said it spends about $17 million a year cleaning up highway litter and will remove 726 tons of litter from state roads by 2025. the agency wrote. “NO.”

Fans are asked to keep their distance

Jimothy may now be a mascot and a meme, but the real raccoon is still a wild animal.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife asked people not to approach, handle, spray, or feed him. Officials say Jimmy appears to be moving and foraging successfully and should be allowed to continue living on his own.

Residents should also secure trash, keep pet food indoors, lock pet doors at night, and avoid encouraging raccoons to run free around people.

The Washington State Department of Health offered similar advice in its Jimothy-themed Threads post.

“As long as you do not try to pet him, hug him, or feed him, Jimothy does not pose a health risk,” the department wrote.

People who encounter wildlife that appears to be injured or distressed in the Seattle area can contact the PAWS Wildlife Center for guidance.

For everyone, there are many ways to enjoy Jimothy from afar. Murals, memes, tattoos, and mascot races are fair game. A real raccoon may prefer personal territory.