Seattle Raccoon Jimothy Goes Viral, Appears at Mariners' 7th-Inning Race
Updated
Updated · KOMO News · Jul 20
Seattle Raccoon Jimothy Goes Viral, Appears at Mariners' 7th-Inning Race
3 articles · Updated · KOMO News · Jul 20
Summary
Jimothy, a rotund raccoon seen around Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, has become a local internet celebrity after social media videos spread widely.
Experts said the animal's unusual spherical look comes from short spine syndrome, a non-fatal deformity that leaves it with long limbs and a stubby tail.
The nickname "Jimothy" caught on after at least one witness used it, and online fans turned the raccoon into a meme subject with fan art and protective slogans.
Saturday's Mariners game folded the craze into the city's sports culture when a raccoon-costumed participant ran the 7th-inning Salmon Run and won before Seattle's 4-3 comeback victory.
The attention has made Jimothy a neighborhood mascot and the latest example of an unexpected wildlife sighting uniting a community online.