All the Internet loves Jimothy, the little round raccoon filmed and photographed in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. Fan art abounds as netizens eagerly await new social media posts sharing a Jimothy sighting. People adore the spunky little trash panda, who thrives despite his notable handicap.
Although perhaps I’ve slightly overstated his roundness for the sake of animation, he really is fairly short of stature, as you can see for yourself in the viral post that started the frenzy:
Seattle resident Kiana Hall and her husband were out for an evening stroll when she spotted the animal. She had her phone out, believing at first she was filming a cat. But she soon realized that her capture was of something far less common, a very stout raccoon. Hall decided that the little guy should be called Jimothy, a name that just came to her at the moment, and one that seems to fit perfectly. She posted her video to social media, which became an overnight sensation, racking up millions of views.
Veterinarians believe that Jimothy was likely born with “short spine syndrome,” a rare congenital deformity that gives him his compact appearance. The disorder affects dogs as well. Short spine syndrome causes the animal’s vertebrae to stay soft and pliable during the fetal stage. Because the vertebrae do not harden as normal bone, they become compressed and may eventually fuse together, resulting in a sloped back and shortened tail. The cause of short spine syndrome is unknown, but scientists suspect that at least in dogs, inbreeding may be related to its occurrence.
Since Jimothy’s viral fame, other posters have shared their own Jimothy sightings. Ballard resident Ben Trammell shared a video of Jimothy as a baby, traversing a fence with his mom and siblings. Trammel was touched how careful and patient the other raccoons were with their little deformed sibling. He explained that Jimothy’s family lived in the cedar trees in his neighbor’s yard for years, but the trees had since been cut down and he’d lost track to where raccoons might have dispersed. Although he hadn’t seen him in about a year and feared that Jimothy might not have lived long with his condition, he was happy to hear that the little raccoon was still thriving.
As Jimothy’s fame has spread, so too has his fandom. The little raccoon is now a feature character in a new video game. Fan art abounds—from drawings and paintings, to beadwork, crochet and even sculpture and glass work. Tattoo artists are inking Jimothy on their clients. Even the Seattle Mariners have included Jimothy in their infield mascot race entertainment segment. Local artist Ryan Henry Ward auctioned off his Jimothy painting for over $6000, and thanks to matching corporate donations was able to give all proceeds—over $12,000—to a local food bank.
Wildlife experts ask that people continue to give Jimothy the space he needs to lead his normal, urban-wild life, and to avoid feeding him. He has shown himself surprisingly resilient despite his physical setback, and he should be allowed to continue to make his unique way in the world.
New York Times, Instagram post
I live in Seattle. We go crazy for this kind of stuff. Everybody gets in on it. It's a weird delightful place. Thanks Martini!
Love this! Thank you for contributing to The Legend of Jimothy, Martini!