Seattle’s Spherical Raccoon ‘Jimothy’ Goes Viral — and Gets a City Proclamation

No, it’s not the legendary chupacabra, the mythical creature infamous for sucking the blood of livestock, especially cats.It’s just Jimothy.Jimothy is a raccoon with a distinctly unusual silhouette who has become Seattle’s most unlikely celebrity.The animal, nicknamed by locals, has taken the internet by storm after a viral Instagram post captured it running through a yard at Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, racking up hundreds of thousands of likes and countless reposts.What makes Jimothy so striking is the close spacing of his front and rear legs, which gives his torso an almost perfectly spherical shape. Since the original post surfaced, multiple residents have come forward with additional sightings — spotting the raccoon on a backyard deck, drinking from a dog bowl, and perched in a tree.The animal’s cryptid-like appearance has made him something of a neighborhood legend.“I think it’s exciting because he is kind of like a local celebrity here in Ballard,” Omar Gonzalez told KIRO-7. Some online observers have drawn comparisons to mythical creatures like Bigfoot and the chupacabra. “Kind of has some sort of physical abnormality, kind of looks a little bit like a cryptid but very cute,” added Brigitte D’autremont. “Almost a little supernatural, kind of like Bigfoot or a yeti or something, becoming infamous really quickly,” KIRO reported.Many have speculated the raccoon’s appearance may be caused by short-spine syndrome, a rare congenital disorder. A veterinarian consulted by KIRO lent credibility to the theory. “It appears that this raccoon, which is a local neighbor, has a congenital spine-shortening disease,” said Carrie Schneider of the Family Pet Veterinary Hospital. “It does look quite unusual, but it is a condition that happens in other mammals as well.” Jimothy’s fame has extended beyond the internet. A Seattle city council member, Alexis Mercedes Rinck, announced plans to officially designate summer 2026 as “Jimothy Summer,” with a formal proclamation scheduled for July 26 at Bergen Place Park. The event will also feature a community art competition inspired by the raccoon.For Ms. Rinck, Jimothy’s rise reflects something deeper about the public mood. “In a time where there is so much surprising news that is shocking to the conscience, it’s a welcome surprise when we have news that takes us off guard and is good and wholesome,” she said, according to the Seattle Times.As for Jimothy, Ms. D’autremont summed up the community’s feelings best: “I hope he makes it. You always worry about animals that are a little different like that. You want to make sure that they survive in the wild.”

Seattle’s Spherical Raccoon ‘Jimothy’ Goes Viral — and Gets a City Proclamation

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