{"id":12043,"date":"2026-07-21T00:24:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=12043"},"modified":"2026-07-21T00:24:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:24:33","slug":"23-memes-that-capture-the-worlds-unhinged-obsession-with-an-unusually-shaped-raccoon-named-jimothy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=12043","title":{"rendered":"23 Memes That Capture The World&#8217;s Unhinged Obsession With An Unusually Shaped Raccoon Named &#8220;Jimothy&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fb_image_6a5e457ba00b3.png\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Every once in a while, an animal \u2014 domestic or wild \u2014 happens to take over social media with its adorable mannerisms, and the online world comes together to make a celebrity out of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">If recent posts shared by Seattle residents are to be believed, it is the turn of a <\/span><strong style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">wild raccoon<\/strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\"> to be famous on the internet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Lovingly dubbed <\/span><strong style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cJimothy\u201d<\/strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\"> by the locals, this round-shaped raccoon with a <\/span><strong style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">truncated torso<\/strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\"> has been spotted in and around Seattle\u2019s Ballard neighborhood for at least a week and has quickly become somewhat of a \u201clocal legend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">It all started when Seattleite Kiana Hall, 33, was out walking near the Ballard Goodwill with her husband on Monday, July 13, 2027, when she came across a creature crossing a road in front of them, then disappeared up a flight of stairs before climbing over a fence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">She filmed the raccoon and posted it on her social media, where it quickly went viral, garnering nearly 400,000 likes and <\/span><strong style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">over five million views<\/strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\"> in just 5 days.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cI thought that it was a cat, and I love cats, so I decided to take a video,\u201d Hall later told <\/span><em style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">CNN<\/em><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">. \u201cMy husband and I saw him, and it just looked like a \u2018Jimothy\u2019 to us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cI think Jimothy is going viral because he\u2019s a silly little guy,\u201d she added. \u201cTimes are hard for everyone, and I think everyone needs a little bit of joy and silliness in their lives right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(136, 153, 166);\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Seattle has recently sighted a Raccoon that frequents the local parks with Short Spine Syndrome (SSS). <\/p>\n<p>The locals have endearingly nicknamed him, &#8220;Jimothy&#8221;. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6ScPfrcNn3\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" staff-link\">pic.twitter.com\/6ScPfrcNn3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Rainmaker1973\/status\/2078003339699089718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" staff-link\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">The wild raccoon has since been spotted walking across fences, climbing onto people\u2019s front porches for a sip of water, or simply lounging in treetops.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Soon, other Seattle residents started sharing their own <\/span><strong style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Jimothy sightings<\/strong><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\"> of the raccoon, making him an overnight sensation. Local public organizations also joined in, with the University of Washington awarding \u201cDr. Jimothy\u201d a joke honorary degree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cThis little guy is simply the best!\u201d one user commented, mirroring the sentiment of the majority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">As for the unconventional body shape that gives him a \u201csupernatural\u201d vibe according to some locals and earned him comparisons to mythical creatures like \u201ccryptids\u201d and \u201cchupacabra,\u201d the reason could be a structural disability, according to experts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Marcie Logsdon, an associate professor at Washington State University\u2019s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, told <\/span><em style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">The Seattle Times<\/em><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\"> that, while Jimothy can\u2019t be accurately diagnosed from the videos, he appears to have been born in 2026 and is doing just fine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cIts abnormally shortened neck is likely caused by a congenital deformity of the spine,\u201d she said, adding that the animal was looking \u201cvery spry\u201d despite the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cThe fact that he\u2019s made it to this age tells me that he\u2019s managing and that he\u2019s adapting. I was surprised and honestly a little bit inspired that he\u2019s that resilient.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">However, she advised that Jimothy is best \u201cleft to his own devices,\u201d and that any resident concerned for his health should call a local wildlife rehabilitator before attempting to intervene.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">According to local news channels, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has also urged people to admire Jimothy from afar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Veterinarian Dr. Carrie Schneider told <\/span><em style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">CNN<\/em><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\"> that Jimothy\u2019s \u201cshort spine disease\u201d was a condition that happens in other mammals as well, but it is quite rare.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(136, 153, 166);\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"700\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">New Jimothy just dropped <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YIPW3syMUh\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" staff-link\">pic.twitter.com\/YIPW3syMUh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 sitka ($jimothy maxxing) (@sitkapetrodolla) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/sitkapetrodolla\/status\/2078861209689071765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" staff-link\">July 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Brian Collins of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine told the <\/span><em style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">New York Post<\/em><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\"> that it affects \u201calmost zero\u201d percent of animals and can make it difficult for Jimothy to climb trees, which raccoons use to seek shelter and forage for food.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cIf he doesn\u2019t have the flexibility and agility to move from predators, this could turn out to be a sad story,\u201d Collins said. \u201cI\u2019d be concerned his biggest predator would be dogs or cars.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Regardless of what fate might await Jimothy, locals are embracing the delight he\u2019s bringing in the moment. Many have already gotten tattoos, made fan art, and created graffiti paintings of the animal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cEveryone could use a little bit of joy right now. He\u2019s just a cute little critter,\u201d said tattoo artist Laura Exley, owner of Electric Kitten Tattoo in Ballard, who already has three clients lined up for Jimothy tattoos with 10 more reaching out for appointments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">\u201cI think it&#8217;s kind of a symbol of resilience,\u201d Exley added. \u201cHe&#8217;s dealing with life a little bit differently, and he seems to be fine. And I think that resonates with a lot of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"ql-align-justify\"><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;\">Take a look at some of Jimothy\u2019s best moments as locals continue to spot him in his everyday life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script type=\"didomi\/javascript\">\nwindow._fbSDKPromise = window._fbSDKPromise || new Promise((resolve, reject) => {\nwindow.fbAsyncInit = function () {\nFB.init({\nappId  : '887842622821495',\nversion: 'v17.0',\nstatus : true,\ncookie : true,\nxfbml  : false\n});\nresolve(FB);\n};\n\/\/ Load SDK only once\nif (!document.getElementById('facebook-jssdk')) {\nconst script = document.createElement('script');\nscript.id = 'facebook-jssdk';\nscript.async = true;\nscript.src = `https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/${BoredPanda.Config.wp_lang}\/sdk.js`;\nscript.onerror = reject;\ndocument.head.appendChild(script);\n}\n});\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every once in a while, an animal \u2014 domestic or wild \u2014 happens to take over social media with its adorable mannerisms, and the online world comes together to make a celebrity out of it.\u00a0 If recent posts shared by Seattle residents are to be believed, it is the turn of a wild raccoon to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fb_image_6a5e457ba00b3.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12043","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12043"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12043\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}