2023 Animal Awareness Day (Horse & Livestock, Wildlife, Marine Life, Bird, Insect)

Just like our pets, the birdlife and wildlife we encounter along our dog walks need a helping hand to remain safe in our ever-changing world. This collection of awareness days focuses not only on wildlife, and bird life, but also on horses, livestock, insects and marine life, helping to shed a light on the challenges they face and the important role they each play in our world.

Table of Contents

January

Humpback Whale Awareness Month
Jan. 5: National Bird Day
Jan. 10: National Save the Eagle Day
Jan. 14: Feast of the Ass (Donkey) (honoring the donkeys of the Bible)
Jan. 18: Winnie the Pooh Day
Jan. 20: Penguin Awareness Day
Jan. 21: Squirrel Appreciation Day
Jan. 17-20, 2023: International Hoof Care Week
Jan 22-28, 2023: Kiss a Shark Week.
Jan. 27-29, 2023: Big Garden Birdwatch (UK). This annual event, founded by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, has been called the world’s largest bird count.
Jan. 31: International Zebra Day

February

International Hoof Care Month
National Bird Feeding Month
National Goat Yoga Month
National Wild Bird-Feeding Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Responsible Pet Owner Month
Feb. 1: Serpent Day
Feb. 2: Groundhog Day
Feb. 2: World Wetlands Day
Feb. 2: Marmot Day (Alaska)
Feb. 3: Feed the Birds Day
Feb. 5: Western Monarch Day
Feb. 5: World Animal Reiki Day
Feb. 12-18, 2023: Homes for Birds Week (2nd Full Week of February)
Feb. 14: World Bonobo Day
Feb.14-21: National Nestbox Week
Feb. 15: National Hippo Day, World Hippopotamus Day
Feb. 18-21, 2022: Great Backyard Bird Count
Feb. 18, 2023: World Pangolin Day (3rd Saturday in February)
Feb. 18, 2023: World Whale Day (3rd Saturday in February)
Feb. 19-25, 2023: Bird Health Awareness Week (Last Full Week of February)
Feb. 19-25, 2023: National Justice for Animals Week (Begins on the 4th Week in February)
Feb. 22: National Wildlife Day
Feb. 27: International Polar Bear Day and National Polar Bear Day
Feb. 27 – March 3, 2023: National Invasive Species Awareness Week (For 5 Days Starting the Last Monday in February)

March

Dolphin Awareness Month
March 1: National Pig Day
March 1: World Seagrass Day
March 1: National Horse Protection Day
March 3: World Wildlife Day
2nd Week of March: National Aardvark Week
March 11: Key Deer Awareness Day
March 12-18, 2023: Termite Awareness Week
March 14: Learn About Butterflies Day
March 11-17: Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign
March 14: Save a Spider Day
March 15: Buzzards Day
March 15: International Day of Action Against Canadian Seal Slaughter
March 16: National Panda Day
March 16, 2023: National Farm Rescuer Day (3rd Thursday in March)
March 18, 2023: Save the Panther Day (3rd Saturday in March)
March 19: National Poultry Day
March 19: Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day
March 20: World Frog Day
March 20: World Rewilding Day
March 20: World Sparrow Day
March 19-25, 2023: National Animal Poison Prevention Week (3rd Full Week of March)
March 22: National Ag Day
March 22: International Day of the Seal
March 23: World Bear Day
March 29, 2022: Manatee Appreciation Day (Last Wednesday in March)

April

Children and Nature Awareness Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
National Frog Month
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
April 1-7, 2023: Be Kind to Spiders Week (1st Full Week of April)
April 2: National Ferret Day
April 3: Jane Goodall’s Birthday
April 3: World Aquatic Animal Day
April 4: World Stray Animal Day
April 5-9, 2022: National Wildlife Week
April 7: International Beaver Day
April 8: Draw a Picture of a Bird Day
April 8: Zoo Lovers Day
April 8: National All is Ours Day
April 9: National Catch and Release Day
April 10: ASPCA Day
April 10: National Farm Animals Day
April 9-15, 2023: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week (2nd full week in April)
April 14: National Dolphin Day
April 16: Save the Elephant Day
April 16-24: National Park Week
April 17: National Bat Appreciation Day, Bat Appreciation Day and International Bat Appreciation Day
April 17–23, 2023: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week (3rd week in April)
April 21: John Muir Day
April 21: Fish Migration Day
April 21: Tuna Rights Day
April 21: World Curlew Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 23: International Pallas’s Cat Day
April 23-30, 2022: International Wildlife Film Week
April 24: World Day for Animals in Laboratories
April 24-30, 2023: World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week (Week surrounding April 24)
April 25: World Penguin Day
April 26: Audubon Day
April 26: National Help a Horse Day
April 27: World Tapir Day
April 27: International Hyena Day
April 27: Mantanzas Mule Day
April 27: Marine Mammal Rescue Day
April 27: International Crow and Raven Appreciation Day
April 29, 2023: Eeyore’s Birthday Day (Last Saturday of April)
April 29, 2023: World Veterinary Day (Last Saturday in April)
April 29, 2023: National Go Birding Day (Last Saturday of April)
April 30: Save the Frogs Day
April 30: National Animal Advocacy Day

May

American Wetlands Month
Be Kind to Animals Month
Gardening for Wildlife Month
National Duckling Month
May 1: Save the Rhino Day
May 7-13, 2023: Be Kind to Animals Week^® (First Full Week in May)
May 2: World Tuna Day
May 3: International Wild Koala Day
May 4: Bird Day
May 6-15, 2022: The Biggest Week in American Birding
May 6, 2023: Start Seeing Monarchs Day (First Saturday in May)
May 8: World Donkey Day
May 12, 2023: Fintastic Friday: Giving Sharks a Voice (2nd Friday in May)
May 13: Frog Jumping Day
May 13, 2023: World Migratory Bird Day (2nd Saturday in May in U.S. & Canada)
May 14: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
May 15: International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day
May 14-20, 2023: National Heritage Breeds Week (3rd Full Week in May)
May 19, 2023: Endangered Species Day (3rd Friday in May)
May 20: National River Cleanup Day
May 20: World Bee Day
May 20, 2023: National Heritage Breeds Day (Saturday of 3rd Full Week in May)
May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity
May 21, 2023: World Fish Migration Day (variable days)
May 23: International Turtle Day and World Turtle Day
May 28: Slugs Return to Capistrano Day
May 28: Whooping Crane Day
May 29: Pink Flamingo Day
May 31: World Parrot Day
May 31, 2023: World Otter Day (Last Wednesday in May)

June

Aquarium Month
National Oceans Month
National Pollinators Month
National Zoo and Aquarium Month
June 1: World Reef Awareness Day
June 2: Yell “Fudge” at the Cobras in North America Day
June 2: World Peatlands Day
June 3: National Trails Day
June 3: National Prairie Day
June 3, 2023: National Black Bear Day (1st Saturday in June)
June 3, 2023: Turtle Races Day (1st Saturday in June)
June 4, 2023: National Animal Rights Day (1st Sunday in June)
June 5: International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
June 5: World Environment Day
June 5: World Day Against Speciesism
June 5-11, 2023: Canadian Environment Week
June 7: June Bug Day
June 8: International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos
June 8: World Oceans Day
June 9: Coral Triangle Day
June 10: National Black Cow Day
June 11: International Lynx Day
June 12: National Cougar Day
June 15: Nature Photography Day
June 16: World Sea Turtle Day
June 17: World Croc Day
June 19-25, 2023: Animal Rights Awareness Week (3rd week in June)
June 18-24, 2023: Fish are Friends, Not Food Week! (Last Week of June)
June 20-26 2023: National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (Last Full Week in June)
June 19-25 2023: National Insect Week
June 19-25 2023: National Pollinator Week
June 20: American Eagle Day
June 21: World Giraffe Day
June 22: World Rainforest Day
June 22: World Camel Day
June 25: National Catfish Day
June 29: World Day Against the Abandonment of Domestic Animals

July

National Bison Month
Wild About Wildlife Month
July 1: American Zoo Day
July 1-7: Clean Beaches Week
First Saturday in July: National Hop A Park Day
July 3-9, 2022: National Farriers Week
July 6: World Zoonoses Day
July 10: Don’t Step on a Bee Day
July 10-17, 2023: Shark Week
July 11-17, 2023: Oxfam Water Week (UK)
July 11, 2023: Cow Appreciation Day (Second Tuesday in July)
July 14: Shark Awareness Day
July 14: World Chimpanzee Day
July 14: World Orca Day
July 15: I Love Horses Day
July 14-16, 2023: Celebration of the Horse Day (3rd Weekend)
July 15-21: Rabbit Week
July 16-22, 2023: National Zoo Keeper Week (3rd Week in July)
3^rd week in July: Coral Reef Awareness Week
July 16: World Snake Day
July 16: Guinea Pig Appreciation Day
July 21: Take a Monkey to Lunch Day
July 22-30, 2023: National Moth Week (last week in July)
July 23: Mosquito Day
July 24-Aug. 8: National Marine Week (UK)
July 26: International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
July 28: World Nature Conservation Day
July 29: International Tiger Day
July 31: World Ranger Day

August

National Catfish Month
Aug. 4: International Clouded Leopard Day
Aug. 6: National Tree Day
Aug. 8: International Moon Bear Day
Aug. 8: Scottish Wildcat Day
Aug. 10: World Lion Day
Aug. 11: Mountain Day
Aug. 12: World Hirola Day
Aug. 12: World Elephant Day
Aug. 14: World Lizard Day
Aug. 15: National Honey Bee Day
Aug. 19: World Orangutan Day
Aug. 19, 2023: International Homeless Animals Day and National Homeless Animals Day (3rd Saturday of August)
Aug. 19, 2023: National Honey Bee Day (3rd Saturday of August)
Aug. 20: World Honey Bee Day
Aug. 20: World Mosquito Day
Aug. 25: National Park Service Founders Day
Aug. 26: World African Wild Dog Day
August 26-27, 2023: International Bat Night (Last Full Weekend in August)
Aug. 30: International Whale Shark Day
Aug. 30: National Beach Day.

September

Animal Pain Awareness Month
Bear Necessities Month
National Organic Month
National Save a Tiger Month
Organic September (UK)
Pet Sitter Education Month
Save the Koala Month
World Animal Remembrance Month
Sept. 1: Save Japan’s Dolphins Day
Sept. 1: International Primate Day
Sept. 2, 2023: International Vulture Awareness Day (First Saturday in September)
Sept. 2, 2023: National Hummingbird Day (First Saturday in September)
Sept. 4: National Wildlife Day
Sept. 5: Amazon Rainforest Day
Sept. 5: International Day of Charity
Sept. 6: World Shorebirds Day
Sept. 7: National Threatened Species Day
Sept. 8: National Iguana Awareness Day
Sept. 9, 2023: National Iguana Awareness Day (Second Saturday in September)
Sept. 15: Greenpeace Day
Sept. 16, 2023: International Red Panda Day (3rd Saturday of September)
Sept. 17: World Manta Day
Sept. 16, 2023: International Coastal Cleanup Day, National Clean Up Day (3rd Saturday of September)
Sept. 16-22, 2023: National Farm Animals Awareness Week (starting on 3rd Saturday in September)
Sept. 16-25, 2023: Great British Beach Clean 2023
Sept. 16- 25, 2023: International Hawk Migration Week (IHMW)
Sept. 17 – 23, 2023: Sea Otter Awareness Week (Last Week of September)
Sept. 22: Elephant Appreciation Day
Sept. 22: World Rhino Day
Sept. 22: International Tamarin Day
Sept. 24: World Gorilla Day
Sept. 23, 2023: Fish Amnesty Day (4th Saturday in September)
Sept. 23, 2023: International Rabbit Day (4th Saturday or Sunday in September)
Sept. 23, 2023: National Wildlife Ecology Day (4th Saturday in September)
Sept. 24: National Bluebird of Happiness Day
Sept. 26: World Cassowary Day
Sept. 28: World Rabies Day
Sept. 29: Happy Goose Day
September 29: World Rivers Day
Sept. 29, 2023: Save the Koala Day (Last Friday in September)

October

Bat Appreciation Month
Feral Hog Month, or Hog Out Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
Squirrel Awareness Month
World Animal Month
Oct. 1: International Raccoon Appreciation Day
Oct. 2: World Farm Animals Day
Oct. 2: World Habitat Day (first Monday of October)
Oct. 3-9, 2023: Animal Welfare Week (First Full Week of October)
Oct. 3: Butterfly and Hummingbird Day
Oct. 4: World Animal Day
Oct. 6: National Badger Day (UK)
Oct. 7: World Habitat Day
Oct. 8: National Salmon Day
Oct. 8: World Octopus Day
Oct. 10: Animal Road Accident Awareness Day
Oct. 13, 2023: Vet Nurse Day (2nd Friday in October)
Oct. 14, 2023: World Migratory Bird Day (in Mexico, Central and South America & Caribbean). Always the second Saturday in October.
Oct. 15: International African Penguin Awareness Day
Oct. 15-21, 2023: National Veterinary Technician Week
Oct. 15-21, 2023: National Wolf Awareness Week (3rd Full Week of October Sunday to Saturday)
Oct. 17: International Sawfish Day
Oct. 18: World Okapi Day
Oct. 20: International Sloth Day
Oct. 21: American Frog Day
Oct. 21: National Reptile Awareness Day
Oct. 22: International Wombat Day
Oct. 23: International Snow Leopard Day
Oct. 23: International Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day
Oct. 24: Freshwater Dolphin Day
Oct. 24: International Gibbon Day
Oct. 24-31, 2023: Bat Appreciation Week
Oct. 24: National Kangaroo Awareness Day (Australia)
Oct. 26: National Mule Day
Oct. 27, 2023: World Lemur Day (last Friday in October)
Oct. 28, 2023: Hug a Sheep Day (Last Saturday in October)

November

Adopt a Turkey Month
Manatee Awareness Month
Nov. 3: Jellyfish Day
Nov. 4, 2023: Bison Day (1st Saturday in November)
Nov. 4, 2023: World Numbat Day (1st Saturday of November)
Nov. 5-11, 2023: Polar Bear Week (1st full week of November)
Nov. 10: American Frog Day
Nov. 15: Steve Irwin Day
November 17: National Hiking Day
Nov. 19: National Camp Day
Nov. 21: World Fisheries Day
Nov. 24, 2023: Fur-Free Friday (always on Black Friday, day after Thanksgiving)
Nov. 27: Turtle Adoption Day
Nov. 29: International Jaguar Day
Nov. 30: Remembrance Day for Lost Species

December

Dec. 4: International Cheetah Day
Dec. 4: World Wildlife Conservation Day
Dec. 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
Dec. 9: National Llama Day
Dec. 10: Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales
Dec. 10: International Animal Rights Day and National Day of Animal Rights
Dec. 11: Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day
Dec. 11: International Mountain Day
Dec. 13: National Day of the Horse
Dec. 14: Monkey Day
Dec. 14 – Jan. 5 Christmas Bird Count Week (same dates every year)
Dec. 21: National Robin Day (UK)
Dec. 27: Visit the Zoo Day