SNEAK PEAK! Kids Ocean Day 2025 was a success! 💕On the morning of May 29, 700 local students spent their school day being stewards of the coastal dunes during the 20th Annual Kids Ocean Day 🌊 event at the Mike Thompson Wildlife Area, South Spit of the Humboldt Bay. After spending the day restoring dune habitat and picking up trash, students, teachers, and volunteers formed an aerial art image of a sea otter and bull kelp with the message "Restore Balance.” 🌿🦦 This year, a sea otter and bull kelp were chosen to represent the Kids Ocean Day event in Humboldt County. The sea otter is a keystone species of kelp forests, meaning it plays a significant role in maintaining the health of the kelp forest ecosystem. ✨A historic decline in sea otter populations along the California coast has led to an overpopulation of sea urchins, which in turn decimate kelp forests, resulting in an unbalanced system. Sea otter recovery efforts have brought their population back from the brink of extinction, from an estimated 50 individuals in the 1930s to over 3,000 individuals currently. 🎉The recovery of this species has helped restore balance in California’s kelp forests. 🌲 Although we don’t currently have sea otters in Humboldt County, we hope they may be reintroduced in the future. 💓 We are grateful to have such a passionate, dedicated and supportive community! Thank you volunteers, partners and participants! Stay tuned! More to come from our local news. 🎥 Photo Credit: Justin Legge #KidsOceanDay #CoastalStewardship #AerialArt #Sustainability #FriendsoftheDunes #HumboldtCounty #California #Restoration #Education #WestCoast #Balance @The California Coast (fb)

TRAIL CAM CUTIE ALERT 🚨 Our friend is known to be adaptable, clever, and always ready to howl. 🐺 Can you name them? #HumboldtCounty #Restoration #Biodiversity #DuneEcology #FriendsOfTheDunes #California #Coyote (fb)