That’s a cool tool!
Best backpack ever!
Where does the otter keep it?
HOTSHOTSWORLDWIDE / DREAMSTIME (MAIN OTTER); FRANCOIS GOHIER / ARDEA (INSET OTTER); CHASE
DEKKER / MINDEN PICTURES (WHALE); MAGNUS LUNDGREN / NPL / MINDEN PICTURES (NUDIBRANCH);
FLIP NICKLIN / MINDEN PICTURES (KELP); NORBERT WU / MINDEN PICTURES (SEA STAR); TRANDANG KHOA
(VEHICLE ART, ALL); MARTIN WALZ (MAP)MAY 2022 • NAT GEO KIDS (^21)
WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT
KELP FORESTS AND OTHER HABITATS.
natgeokids.com/may
Gray whales cruise near kelp
forests on their yearly migra-
tion between the waters off
Mexico and the Arctic Ocean.
One of the whales’ favorite
snacks—tiny shrimp—swarm
around the kelp beds.
Firmly anchored to a blade
of kelp, the lion’s mane
nudibranch hunts for teeny
sea creatures called plankton.
The strange sea slug sweeps
its jellyfish-like hood to grab
its grub, then snaps it shut
like a Venus flytrap.
Giant kelp grows up to two
feet in a single day. Bubbles
under the fronds help keep
the kelp upright so they can
soak in sunlight to make
their own food.
Sea stars are scavengers of
the kelp forest habitat—they
feed on dead animals and
kelp pieces that have drifted
to the seafloor.
You asked what else lives in
this kelp habitat:
FOREST LIFE
@NatGeoKids
is texting you!
Hear that cracking sound?
It’s an otter opening a clam
with a rock.
Seriously—and the otter will
use the same rock for a while.
In a patch of loose skin
under its arms.