A Seattle raccoon known as Jimothy has become a viral internet meme after a video posted by local resident Kiana Hall received more than eight million views by Friday morning.

The footage, shared on Instagram on May 31, 2025, showed the raccoon moving quickly across a sidewalk and up steps. The caption identified the animal as "Jimothy the raccoon with short spine syndrome," a description that sparked speculation about the animal's condition.

Commenters noted that the raccoon may have been mentioned by Hall's brother before the video gained traction. Digital culture researcher Dr. Idil Galip of the University of Washington said increased human‑raccoon encounters in urban areas provide more footage that can become memes quickly.

A local artist painted a mural of Jimothy in the Ballard neighborhood, where the animal was first observed. The White House social media account shared a meme of the raccoon wearing a red hat with the slogan "Trump was right about everything."

Google added an animation of Jimothy to its search results page when the name is entered, and crypto developers launched meme coins referencing the raccoon. An upcoming appearance in World of Warcraft was announced, and an official Minecraft account claimed the raccoon appeared in the game.

Officials in Washington have warned residents not to approach Jimothy to protect both the animal and public safety. Some observers said the viral attention offers a brief respite from the constant flow of online content, as described by writer Jamie Slack in her blog Totally the Bomb.

Analysts noted that brands are capitalizing on the trend through meme marketing, which can generate temporary visibility in search results and social media feeds.