Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson named Jimothy, a Seattle raccoon with short spine syndrome, as Washingtonian of the Day on Thursday
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Kiana Hall, a 33-year-old Seattle resident, spotted the oddly shaped raccoon in her Ballard neighborhood on July 13
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Hall pulled out her phone to capture video of the animal as it scurried across the sidewalk
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“What am I looking at?” Hall says in the footage she posted on Instagram. In the caption, she dubbed the creature Jimothy
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Hall later wrote in the comments, “He just looked like a Jimothy to me”
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Hall says she was “pretty surprised and confused because the body shape didn’t look like anything I was familiar with”
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Hall says it was obvious: “He turned around and I saw that masked pattern on the front of his face, and that’s when I realized he was a raccoon”
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Video of the raccoon scurrying across a Ballard backyard surfaced online earlier this month, wracking up millions of views and turning the creature into an overnight internet sensation
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That video now has over 10 million views
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Jimothy, who wildlife experts say likely has a congenital spine condition, had gone viral after a July 14 video captured him roaming the streets
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Neighborhood residents say Jimothy has roamed the area for years
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Short spine syndrome is a rare genetic defect in animals which causes a shrunken neck or spine, leading to the rounded appearance
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“He’s really captured the hearts of people across our state, really across the country and even the world,” Ferguson said of Jimothy in a video shared on social media
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“I think one of the reasons why he’s captured so much attention is he shows a certain resilience in getting by and even thriving, given that deformity,” Ferguson said
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The award, an informal accolade, is typically given to a Washington resident who is considered inspiring to others
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The governor also mentioned that he is trying to get the special Washingtonian of the Day pin to the raccoon
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Additionally,
“I just think he’s just sort of round and a silly little guy,” Hall said in an interview with Reuters
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Jimothy’s likeness has inspired public art murals, bobbleheads, merch, tattoos and more
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Google is displaying a digital version of Jimothy crawling across your screen when you search his name; as of Thursday, the animation has been viewed over 6.6 million times
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Jimothy’s fame has also raised thousands of dollars for the Ballard Food Bank through charity art auctions and matching donations
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Meanwhile,
Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck plans to present an official proclamation recognizing the viral raccoon during a community celebration in Ballard July 26
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“The summer of 2026 is officially Jimothy Summer,” Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck declared at an event featuring a contest for local artists who created pieces dedicated to the creature
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The Seattle Mariners announced a “Jimothy Night” for their home game against the Detroit Tigers on August 5, featuring giveaways of an exclusive “Jimothy Rookie Card” and a t-shirt
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“I never thought that my video of a raccoon would take off,” Hall says
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“I’m really happy that he could bring some kind of joy to people. Times are hard for everyone. Everyone could use something silly and fun like this,” Hall added
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In the viral moment that started it all,
Kiana Hall, a 33-year-old marketing specialist, spotted the raccoon while walking through her neighborhood of Ballard in July, noting “He was under a car, and I thought he was a cat. I just love cats and wanted to take a closer look”
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When she pointed her phone at the animal, Jimothy scampered across a sidewalk looking like a 5-year-old’s crayon rendering of a raccoon, or a lesser character from a horror film
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The 33-year-old shared in the caption that the happy sighting occurred on her 13th anniversary with her husband
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Public Health — Seattle & King County officials urge people to love Jimothy from afar. Officials say you should not feed, approach or interact with the animal
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