It s only Wednesday Jul 8, 2020

It s only Wednesday

After looking at this adorable gray seal pup you may be surprised to learn that its Latin name translates to hooked-nose sea pig (or piglet, in this pup"s case). Over 110,000 gray seals, more than 35% of the world"s population, make their home in and around the coastal waters of the British Isles. As autumn approaches, pupping season begins, and fuzzy pups—like the one photographed here—can be spotted on the coasts and beaches of the eastern Atlantic. About a month after the seal pups are born, they"re abruptly weaned when their mothers return to the sea to hunt for food and find a new mate. The older pups then congregate for protection in groups called weaner pods. Within weeks they shed their thick pup fur and take to the sea to learn how to catch their own fish.

© Kevin Sawford/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jul 8, 2018Travel Sunday: Flamenco in Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Jul 8, 2019Make your way up a picturesque passageway of Chefchaouen
Jul 8, 2021A storied trail marks a century
Jul 8, 2022Preveli Gorge
Jul 8, 2023Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel in Arkansas
Jul 8, 2024National Blueberry Day
Jul 8, 2025Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 25, 2020A dying breed of tree thrives in an American park
Dec 11, 2022Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Apr 24, 2023Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Feb 24, 2018A red fox on the Swiss side of the Jura Mountain range
Jun 25, 2024Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Feb 11, 2023Milky Way over Zabriskie Point, California
Jan 28, 2024Channel Country, Australia
Mar 1, 2021Gazing upon Portraits of Change
Mar 5, 2021Reflecting on one of the world s strangest rivers
Apr 7, 2024International Beaver Day
May 19, 2019High trekking season in Upper Mustang
Aug 9, 2022International Day of the World s Indigenous Peoples
May 16, 2021A magnificent monolith
Sep 11, 2023Patriot Day
May 13, 2024Fish River Canyon, Namibia
May 28, 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
Oct 9, 2018A history of Vinland
Jun 13, 2025Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Apr 10, 2018It’s Siblings Day!
Aug 5, 2020Aw shucks, It s Oyster Day
Apr 13, 2021Ruins of a royal temple
Jun 6, 2025Arromanches-les-Bains for the 81st anniversary of D-Day
Jun 7, 2025National Trails Day
May 9, 2022Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey
May 16, 2024International Day of Light
Aug 27, 2020Rocks on the move
Oct 31, 2020Twas a night just like tonight
Nov 22, 2018Tom Turkey takes Manhattan
Aug 4, 2025Great gray owls in their nest, Finland
Mar 31, 2018Cherry blossoms at the National Mall, Washington, DC