World Otter Day May 31, 2023

World Otter Day

Watching sea otters playing in the water is always a treat. But while they look cute, these furry critters are also the top predators in their food chain, "otterly" vital to keeping ecosystems in balance. Sea otters eat sea urchins and without them, sea urchins spread across the sea floor, destroying crucial kelp forests which provide food and shelter for many other aquatic animals. Unfortunately, sea otters are one of five otter species listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Five others are listed as near-threatened and two as vulnerable. Of the 13 otter species worldwide, only the North American river otter’s population is considered to be stable. On the last Wednesday in May, World Otter Day seeks to raise awareness about the threats to otters, and how to protect them.

© Donald M. Jones/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

May 31, 2018Leaves of Grass
May 31, 2019Mysterious prairie mounds abound
May 31, 2020Welcome to the pack
May 31, 2021Here we honor the women who ve served
May 31, 2022World Parrot Day
May 31, 2024Gunnerside, Yorkshire Dales National Park, England
May 31, 2025Knuthöjdsmossen, a nature reserve in Sweden

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 18, 2018A red knot on the Shetland Islands, Scotland
Feb 3, 2024Carnival of Venice
Sep 3, 2019In the Most Serene Republic
May 1, 2021It s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Nov 23, 2022Fibonacci Day
Jun 4, 2021Islands that turned the tide
Nov 22, 2025Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan, China
Apr 28, 2024Last day of National Park Week
May 21, 2020A visionary artist paints his own garden view
Mar 23, 2019What happened to these clouds?
Jun 11, 2021An island in the Highlands
Jun 8, 2023World Oceans Day
Jul 21, 2025Coral Reef Awareness Week
Jun 2, 2021The dry days of winter in Etosha
Apr 24, 2021A garden of prickly delights
Jun 27, 2022Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France
Jan 28, 2024Channel Country, Australia
Nov 17, 2022National Take a Hike Day
Mar 7, 2019March of the flowers
Sep 29, 2020A crush in Lavaux
Dec 3, 2019It’s Giving Tuesday
Jun 6, 2021On this shore, history was made
Mar 8, 2019‘Think equal, build smart, innovate for change’
May 20, 2019The island fox’s incredible comeback
May 13, 2018Happy Mother’s Day
Mar 31, 2025Ostuni, Apulia, Italy
May 9, 2021Happy Mother s Day!
May 31, 2021Here we honor the women who ve served
Mar 2, 2025Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains National Park, Australia
Feb 24, 2020Wind horses carry wishes for a new year