Close
MyNorthwest
News
Opinion
Sports
Tools
Connect

LIFESTYLE

Zebra ‘sightings’: Social media users embrace ‘Z’ with memes and jokes

May 3, 2024, 1:29 PM | Updated: Oct 8, 2024, 11:19 am

Image: The Pierce County Sheriff's Department was one of many organizations and businesses in Washi...

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department was one of many organizations and businesses in Washington to post jokes and memes about the missing zebra in the spring of 2024. (Image courtesy of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department/@PierceSheriff on X)

(Image courtesy of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department/@PierceSheriff on X)

Steve Coogan's Profile Picture

BY STEVE COOGAN


Former MyNorthwest Lead Editor

The search for “Z” the zebra who got loose on Interstate 90 (I-90) Sunday and remained missing until being recovered Friday night had captivated people in Washington, the Pacific Northwest and across the nation. That, of course, has translated to various memes and jokes.

The owner, who is based in Montana, was hauling four zebras in a trailer when they escaped near North Bend last weekend. Three of them were corralled and recaptured later that day with the help of civil service workers and intervening citizens.

Shug, that’s actually the zebra’s name, had eluded capture despite daily sightings from North Bend residents, property owners and hikers. Multiple neighbors told KIRO Newsradio this week the zebra was spotted several times along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, with multiple encounters happening near the Riverbend neighborhood and Boxley Creek.

While Regional Animal Services of King County (RAKSC) officials previously said they were no longer “actively searching” for the missing zebra, that didn’t stop people from reporting real sightings of the animal and fake sightings in the form of memes and jokes that can be seen on any social media channel near you.

More on the zebra: Evasive missing mare recovered in North Bend, is safe

Zebra memes: Z and Sasquatch

Unsurprisingly, a number of jokesters have assumed that Z and Sasquatch met, formed a fast friendship and are now roaming the Pacific Northwest together.

 


Z enjoying the local fast food chains

Perhaps Z got a couple of Dick’s Deluxe burgers before meeting some friends at Ivar’s.

 

Did Z stop for a pie, a cookie or both?

Zebras can place friendly wagers too

According to a couple of the local casino resorts, zebras like to pop in play some games, walk the grounds and enjoy a night’s rest in a nice room.

It’s possible Z just wants to enjoy some nice views or a relaxing walk

We wouldn’t blame Z if she wanted to head to the San Juan Islands or just wanted to stay near Seattle and relax.

 

 

Z takes in what else Washington has to offer

Perhaps Z and her friends just wanted to eat some peanuts and enjoy a ballgame with one of the area teams?

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dog Yard Bar (@dogyardbar)

Law enforcement agencies have been following Z’s movements carefully

Some of the city’s departments in the state are trying to recruit her and put her to work.

 

 

 

One local fire company is using Z as a recruiting tool and brought a couple of colorful quips to the forefront.

Other government agencies are keeping a close eye on Z

A lot of state and city employees have an eye out for the most popular zebra in Washington.

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget these

“It’s the Z the missing Zebra/Fruit Stripe/Kitsap Credit Union mash-up you didn’t know you needed,” Kitsap Credit Union wrote on its Instagram page this week. Indeed.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kitsap Credit Union (@kitsapcu)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Seattle Magazine (@seattlemag)

Steve Coogan is the lead editor of MyNorthwest. You can read more of his stories here. Follow Steve on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here.

sign up for the 425 Magazine newsletter

Two people embrace near others wearing thermal blankets as they stand near emergency personnel in B...

Associated Press

Authorities in Germany issue a wanted notice for suspect in the Berlin Pride van ramming

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities on Sunday issued a wanted notice for a fugitive suspect in the van ramming near Berlin’s Pride festival that left one person dead and injured at least 16 others. Police and prosecutors asked for help in finding the 21-year-old, whom they identified as Abdul B. Police had said earlier that […]

1 hour ago

Visitors at the booth for Chinese AI Startup Moonshot's Kimi K3 during the World AI Conference in S...

Associated Press

Cheaper, open and intelligent: Chinese AI models gain ground, as they make inroads in the US

HONG KONG (AP) — China has a hot new product in the United States: artificial intelligence. San Francisco-based Raffi Krikorian, the chief technology officer at Mozilla, which runs the Firefox browser, switched to Chinese AI startup Moonshot’s Kimi K3 for many of his day-to-day activities within days of the new, powerful model’s launch more than […]

2 hours ago

FILE - The sun sets behind the Space Needle as a small plane flies by on the first day of spring, T...

Associated Press

Seattle police are searching for two men who parachuted from the Space Needle

The Seattle Police Department is searching for two men who climbed over the glass wall of the city’s iconic Space Needle on Friday, flipped over the edge and parachuted down from the 605-foot structure. The jumpers face trespassing charges, according to a report provided by Public Affairs Officer Brian Pritchard. The BASE jumpers purchased tickets […]

5 hours ago

Associated Press

Airstrikes have paused and talks are pressing forward. But can the US and Iran take the off-ramp?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has paused its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying bombing, while diplomatic efforts have pushed forward to try to avert a return to all-out war. But it remains to be seen whether the U.S. and Iran are at an inflection point in a mercurial conflict that […]

6 hours ago

An air tanker drops retardant while battling the Bench fire on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Jefferso...

Associated Press

Fast-moving wildfires burn in central Oregon, in photos

Wind-driven wildfires burned across central Oregon, where firefighters worked to contain fast-moving flames threatening nearby communities. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

7 hours ago

Longview fire air quality...

Frank Lenzi

Massive scrap pile fire in Longview triggers air quality warning; residents urged to stay indoors

A large scrap pile fire at PNW Metals in Longview sent a massive plume of smoke into the sky Saturday, prompting fire officials to issue an air quality warning urging nearby residents to stay indoors. The Longview Fire Department and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue were on scene as of Saturday afternoon and anticipated remaining […]

7 hours ago

Zebra ‘sightings’: Social media users embrace ‘Z’ with memes and jokes