'Jimothy' the raccoon captures the internet's heart: What to know about him
"Jimothy" the raccoon, a uniquely proportioned, short-bodied creature seen traipsing his way around Seattle, Washington, has taken the internet by storm.
The raccoon has gone viral in recent weeks after short clips of him, captured by city residents, were posted to social media.
The internet is particularly obsessed with Jimothy's unique shape, which appears to stem from a congenital condition seen in some animals called "short-spine" syndrome.
Below, read what to know about the viral sensation.
Who is Jimothy the raccoon?
The famed raccoon was recently spotted in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, according to the city, although some residents have reported seeing him in months prior.
In a July 14 video that has since racked up approximately 8 million views on Instagram, Jimothy is seen stretching his long legs and small body across a patch of grass and sidewalk before climbing a flight of stairs.
"What am I looking at?" the woman behind the camera, Seattle resident Kiana Hall, says while filming.
Since then, Jimothy has cropped up in several other videos across Seattle.
One social media user, Dmitriy Ishimsky, who has shared several videos of the raccoon climbing along his fence, described Jimothy's backstory, saying he first witnessed the raccoon and his family a year ago, when Jimothy was just a baby.
"I haven't seen him for about six months, and I've often wondered what happened to him. His unique little body makes him incredibly adorable, but I know it probably isn't the easiest thing for a wild raccoon to live with," Ishimsky wrote in the caption of a recent post.
"Seeing videos of him now -- and knowing he's becoming a little local celebrity -- makes me so happy," he added. "More than anything, I'm just glad he's okay."
What is short-spine syndrome?
Short-spine syndrome, the condition Jimothy appears to have, is a congenital condition affecting spine development, according to Marcie Logsdon, a clinical associate professor at Washington State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
"What happens is that the the spine does not develop normally, and so it develops very shortened," Logsdon explained.
"Oftentimes, the vertebrae are just very misshapen and very shortened, and so what we end up with is this very truncated appearance, where, you know, everything from head to tail is just much shorter than it should be," Logsdon continued, adding that sometimes, animals with the condition may be missing vertebrae.
The syndrome is also seen in other animals including dogs.
How Jimothy became famous beyond social media
The legend of Jimothy has spread far beyond the confines of social media, as government officials, major brands and even a museum have embraced the four-pawed icon.
The city of Seattle will host an event this upcoming Sunday celebrating the raccoon, where Jimothy will be honored with an official city proclamation, according to a social media post shared by Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck.
The event will also serve as a "Jimothy-themed" art competition, according to the post.
Organizations like the Seattle Mariners and even NASA have also joined in on the fun, referencing Jimothy in various social media posts. The Mariners also brought a Jimothy mascot to participate in the beloved Salmon Run, which traditionally takes place in the middle of the fourth inning at Mariners home games and involves salmon-costumed mascots competing in a foot race. (Jimothy won, of course.)
Beyond the city of Seattle, Google has added an animation of the raccoon running across the results page on "Jimothy" searches.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum also rolled out a Jimothy bobblehead, on pre-sale for $30.
What experts say about staying safe around Jimothy
Despite all the fun being had, the Seattle and King County public health department has warned residents to be careful around Jimothy, reminding them that he is a wild animal.
"We fell hard for Jimothy and all of his memes. But our public health veterinarian reminded us that all wildlife need some distance from humans," the health agency wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. "Jimothy is adorable, but please don't feed or interact with raccoons. They can carry bacteria and roundworms, and when cornered or stressed, any wildlife can bite."
The department noted that while raccoons in the region "are not known to carry rabies," there is "always a small possibility that it could spread to raccoon populations here."
Logsdon echoed that sentiment.
"If people see Jimothy, respect him from a distance," she said. "Take your picture, share it with your friends, but don't try to approach him. Don't try to catch him."
