When Kiana Hall spotted something waddling across a Seattle field, she thought she was looking at “an orb with really long legs.” Then it turned around, she saw the mask, and she realized it was a raccoon. The short clip she posted — asking only what on earth she was looking at — has since drawn more than 18 million views on TikTok alone, turning a neighborhood critter into a global star named Jimothy.
Jimothy’s compact, ball-like shape comes from a rare congenital spine condition, possibly short spine syndrome, a disorder that also turns up in dogs. But the surprising part, according to the veterinarians watching the clips, is how well he is doing. Marcie Logsdon of Washington State University’s veterinary hospital said he was likely born just this year, and that surviving this long tells her he is managing life in the wild just fine.
He had help. A Ballard neighbor who had watched Jimothy since he was a baby said the little raccoon was clumsy and often unsteady, but his mother and siblings were endlessly patient — keeping him from falling, and sometimes simply carrying him.
The internet, meanwhile, has adopted him completely. There are subreddits, sighting trackers, tattoos, and a slogan — “hot Jimothy summer.” A city councilmember is preparing a proclamation declaring “Jimothy Summer,” and the University of Washington has handed an honorary degree to one Dr. Jimothy.
Briefs and quick reads selected and edited by The Smart Reader’s editorial team.
