Sea otters, Prince William Sound, Alaska (© Gerald Corsi/Getty Images)

Think sea otters are just about whiskers and floating naps? There's more going on behind those button eyes. Every year, Sea Otter Awareness Week highlights their role in maintaining coastal ecosystems. Launched in 2003 by Defenders of Wildlife—a nonprofit conservation organization—this week promotes education and action. In Alaska's Prince William Sound, sea otters drift on ice or crack shellfish on their bellies using their favorite rock, as seen in today's image. Less visible is how their appetite for sea urchins helps protect kelp forests.