Sea otter in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA Sep 23, 2024

The otter featured in today"s image was photographed in Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States. Sea otters are native to the northern and eastern coasts of the North Pacific Ocean. Weighing 13–45 kilograms, they"re expert foragers, diving to the seabed to find food. These clever critters are smart as well as cute: they use rocks to crack open shellfish, making them one of the few animals that use tools. There used to be as many as 300,000 in the wild, but they were heavily hunted for almost two centuries, as their dense fur was highly prized. By 1911, it is thought that only around 2,000 were left. Thankfully, an international hunting ban, conservation efforts and reintroduction programs have helped them rebound, and they are now found in about two-thirds of their historic habitat. Despite this success, some populations are still struggling, and sea otters are still an endangered species.

© Gerald Corsi/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jellies in a world all their own
Sep 23, 2023Autumnal equinox
Sep 23, 2025Keel-billed toucan, Costa Rica

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 12, 2024Volcán Alcedo giant tortoises
Sep 17, 2025A young bull moose
Oct 16, 2024Jurassic Coast, Dorset, United Kingdom
Mar 18, 2026Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon, United States
Sep 2, 2023Allens Hummingbird
Apr 18, 2025International Day for Monuments and Sites
What’s blooming so brightly?
There’s more to Pisa than leaning towers
Mar 28, 2025Black-naped monarch
Rainbow around the sun
Sep 27, 2025Tank Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States
Like sands through the hourglass
Dec 28, 2024Dudhsagar Falls, Goa
Jan 28, 2026Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand
Celebrating Guru Nanak Gurpurab
Jul 14, 2024Shark Awareness Day
Nov 20, 2024Olive grove, Valle dItria, Puglia, Italy
Dec 15, 2024Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy
Unbe-leaf-able
Jul 25, 2024Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
Bright blue lakes and rugged mountains
Winter wonderland for your wallet
Perfect, pastoral Palouse
Apr 2, 2025Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United States
Nap your worries away
Where the humpback whale sings
Dec 31, 2025New Years Eve
May 14, 2024Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, USA
Sep 29, 2024West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut, USA
Jan 2, 2025Ardez village, Graubunden, Switzerland