“Sea Otter,” IUCN Status: Endangered, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA, by Jess Findlay, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. This image was "Highly Honored" in the Wildlife category.

Says Findlay: “This female otter … had just spent about an hour meticulously grooming her fur. Primping can be an exhausting affair; a long nap immediately followed. We drifted along side-by-side for quite some time. It was heartening to see this animal at peace since the species has faced and overcome threats due to the fur trade and catastrophic oil spills in past years.”

‘Gold Dust Day Gecko,’ posted earlier: