Seattle’s round raccoon Jimothy goes viral online

An unusual raccoon with a distinctive, rounded appearance has become an internet sensation and a beloved local figure in Seattle after videos of the animal went viral this week. The raccoon, nicknamed Jimothy by residents, appears to have a significantly shortened spine, giving it a compact, spherical shape.

The phenomenon began when Seattle resident Kiana Hall captured a video of the animal in the city's Ballard neighborhood on July 14. Hall said she was confused by what she saw, noting she had never seen another animal like it. She posted the footage to Instagram, dubbing the raccoon "Jimothy" because, as she explained, he simply looked like one. The video quickly amassed millions of views, and by July 17, it had been viewed over 6 million times.

Hall's footage sparked a wave of online recognition, with other Seattle residents sharing their own encounters and videos of the distinctive raccoon scuttling under cars, across porches, and through local yards. The animal has inspired fan art and a dedicated online following, with social media users expressing adoration and a protective instinct for the creature. Some have humorously compared Jimothy to a local cryptid, akin to Bigfoot.