2024 Animal Awareness Days (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.

January

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. 16-19, 2024: International Hoof Care Week
Jan 21-27, 2024: Kiss a Shark Week.
Jan. 26-28, 2024: 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

Humpback Whale Awareness Month
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, 2024: 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. 16-29, 2024: Great Backyard Bird Count
Feb. 17, 2024: World Pangolin Day (3rd Saturday in February)
Feb. 17, 2024: World Whale Day (3rd Saturday in February)
Feb. 18-24, 2024: Bird Health Awareness Week (Last Full Week of February)
Feb. 18-24, 2024: National Justice for Animals Week (Begins on the 4th Week in February)
Feb. 22: National Wildlife Day
Feb. 26-March 1, 2024: National Invasive Species Awareness Week (For 5 Days Starting the Last Monday in February)
Feb. 27: International Polar Bear Day and National Polar Bear Day

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
March 4-10, 2024: National Aardvark Week (2nd Week of March)
March 10-16, 2024: Termite Awareness Week
March 11: Key Deer Awareness Day
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, 2024: Save the Panther Day (3rd Saturday in March)
March 17-23, 2024: National Animal Poison Prevention Week (3rd Full Week of March)
March 19: National Poultry Day
March 19: Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day
March 19, 2024: National Ag Day
March 20: World Frog Day
March 20: World Rewilding Day
March 20: World Sparrow Day
March 21, 2024: National Farm Rescuer Day (3rd Thursday in March
March 22: International Day of the Seal
March 23: World Bear Day
March 27, 2024: 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, 2024: 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, 2024: 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 10: National Farm Animals Day
April 10-28, 2024: National Park Week
April 13, 2024: National Catch and Release Day
April 14-20, 2024: Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week (2nd full week in April)
April 14: National Dolphin Day
April 15-21, 2024: Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week (3rd week in April)
April 16: Save the Elephant Day
April 17: National Bat Appreciation Day, Bat Appreciation Day and International Bat Appreciation Day
April 20-25 2024: International Wildlife Film Week
April 21: John Muir Day
April 21: Tuna Rights Day
April 21: World Curlew Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 22-28, 2024: World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week (Week surrounding April 24)
April 23: International Pallas’s Cat Day
April 24: World Day for Animals in Laboratories
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: Mule Day
April 27: Marine Mammal Rescue Day
April 27: International Crow and Raven Appreciation Day
April 27, 2024: Eeyore’s Birthday Day (Last Saturday of April)
April 27, 2024: World Veterinary Day (Last Saturday in April)
April 27, 2024: National Go Birding Day (Last Saturday of April)
April 28: 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 2: World Tuna Day
May 3-12, 2024: The Biggest Week in American Birding
May 3: International Wild Koala Day
May 4: Bird Day
May 4, 2024: Start Seeing Monarchs Day (First Saturday in May)
May 5-11, 2024: Be Kind to Animals Week^® (First Full Week in May)
May 8: World Donkey Day
May 8, 2024: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day
May 10, 2024: Fintastic Friday: Giving Sharks a Voice (2nd Friday in May)
May 11, 2024: World Migratory Bird Day (2nd Saturday in May in U.S. & Canada)
May 13: Frog Jumping Day
May 15: International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day
May 15-21, 2024: National Heritage Breeds Week (3rd Full Week in May)
May 17, 2024: Endangered Species Day (3rd Friday in May)
May 18, 2024: National River Cleanup Day
May 18, 2024: National Heritage Breeds Day (Saturday of 3rd Full Week in May)
May 20: World Bee Day
May 22: International Day for Biological Diversity
May 23: International Turtle Day and World Turtle Day
May 25, 2024: World Fish Migration Day (variable days)
May 28: Slugs Return to Capistrano Day
May 28: Whooping Crane Day
May 29, 2024: World Otter Day (Last Wednesday in May)
May 31: World Parrot Day

June

Aquarium Month
National Oceans Month
National Pollinators Month
National Zoo and Aquarium Month
June 1: World Reef Awareness Day
June 1, 2024: National Prairie Day
June 1, 2024: National Trails Day
June 1, 2024: National Black Bear Day (1st Saturday in June)
June 1, 2024: Turtle Races Day (1st Saturday in June)
June 2, 2024: National Animal Rights Day (1st Sunday in June)
June 2: Yell “Fudge” at the Cobras in North America Day
June 2: World Peatlands Day
June 3-9, 2024: Canadian Environment Week
June 5: International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
June 5: World Environment Day
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 11: International Lynx Day
June 11-17, 2024: Oxfam Water Week (UK)
June 12: National Cougar Day
June 15: Nature Photography Day
June 16: World Sea Turtle Day
June 17: World Croc Day
June 17-23, 2024: Animal Rights Awareness Week (3rd week in June)
June 17-23, 2024: National Pollinator Week
June 20: American Eagle Day
June 20-26: National Mosquito Control Awareness Week
June 21: World Giraffe Day
June 22: World Rainforest Day
June 22: World Camel Day
June 23: Pink Flamingo Day
June 23-29, 2024: Fish are Friends, Not Food Week! (Last Week of June)
June 24-30, 2024: National Insect Week
June 24-July 1, 2024: Rabbit Week
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
Second week in July: National Farriers Week
July 6: World Zoonoses Day
July 7, 2024: National Hop A Park Day (First Saturday in July)
July 9, 2024: Cow Appreciation Day (Second Tuesday in July)
July 10: Don’t Step on a Bee Day
July 14: Shark Awareness Day
July 14: World Orca Day
July 14: World Chimpanzee Day
July 15: I Love Horses Day
July 15, 2024: Celebration of the Horse Day (3rd Weekend)
July 15-21, 2024: Coral Reef Awareness Week
July 16: World Snake Day
July 20-28. 2024: National Moth Week (last week in July)
July 21: Take a Monkey to Lunch Day
July 21-27, 2024: National Zoo Keeper Week (3rd Week in July)
July 21-28, 2024: Shark Week
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

Aug. 2: International Golden Lion Tamarin Day
Aug. 4: International Clouded Leopard Day
Aug. 8: International Moon Bear Day
Aug. 8: Scottish Wildcat Day
Aug. 10: World Lion Day
Aug. 12: World Hirola Day
Aug. 12: World Elephant Day
Aug. 14: World Lizard Day
Aug. 17, 2024: National Honey Bee Day
Aug. 17, 2024: International Homeless Animals Day and National Homeless Animals Day (3rd Saturday of August)
Aug. 19: World Orangutan Day
Aug. 20: World Mosquito Day
Aug. 24-25, 2024: International Bat Night (Last Full Weekend in August)
Aug. 25: National Park Service Founders Day
Aug. 26: World Day for the End of Speciesism
Aug. 26: World African Wild Dog Day
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. 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. 7, 2024: National Hummingbird Day (First Saturday in September)
Sept. 7, 2024: International Vulture Awareness Day (First Saturday in September)
Sept. 8: National Iguana Awareness Day
Sept. 14-22, 2024: International Hawk Migration Week (IHMW)
Sept. 15-21, 2024: National Farm Animals Awareness Week
Sept. 15: Greenpeace Day
Sept. 17: World Manta Day
Sept. 20-29, 2024: Great British Beach Clean
Sept. 21, 2024: International Red Panda Day (3rd Saturday of September)
Sept. 21, 2024: International Coastal Cleanup Day, National Clean Up Day (3rd Saturday of September)
Sept. 22: Elephant Appreciation Day
Sept. 22: World Rhino Day
Sept. 22, 2024: World Rivers Day
Sept. 22-28, 2024: Sea Otter Awareness Week (Last Week of September)
Sept. 24: World Gorilla Day
Sept. 24: National Bluebird of Happiness Day
Sept. 26: World Cassowary Day
Sept. 27, 2024: Save the Koala Day (Last Friday in September)
Sept. 28, 2024: Fish Amnesty Day (4th Saturday in September)
Sept. 28, 2024: International Rabbit Day (4th Saturday or Sunday in September)
Sept. 28, 2024: National Wildlife Ecology Day (4th Saturday in September)
Sept. 28: World Rabies Day

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. 3-9, 2024: 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, 2024: World Habitat Day (first Monday of October)
Oct. 8: World Octopus Day
Oct. 10: Animal Road Accident Awareness Day
Oct. 11, 2024: Vet Nurse Day (2nd Friday in October)
Oct. 12, 2024: World Migratory Bird Day (in Mexico, Central and South America & Caribbean). Always the second Saturday in October.
Oct. 12, 2024: International African Penguin Awareness Day
Oct. 13-19, 2024: National Veterinary Technician Week
Oct. 17: International Sawfish Day
Oct. 18: World Okapi Day
Oct. 20: International Sloth Day
Oct. 20-26, 2024: National Wolf Awareness Week (3rd Full Week of October Sunday to Saturday)
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: National Kangaroo Awareness Day (Australia)
Oct. 24-31, 2024: Bat Appreciation Week
Oct. 25, 2024: World Lemur Day (last Friday in October)
Oct. 26: National Mule Day
Oct. 26, 2024: Hug a Sheep Day (Last Saturday in October)

November

Adopt a Turkey Month
Manatee Awareness Month
Nov. 2, 2024: Bison Day (1st Saturday in November)
Nov. 2, 2024: World Numbat Day (1st Saturday of November)
Nov. 3: Jellyfish Day
Nov. 3-9, 2024: Polar Bear Week (1st full week of November)
Nov. 15: Steve Irwin Day
Nov. 17: National Hiking Day
Nov. 19: National Camp Day
Nov. 21: World Fisheries Day
Nov. 27: Turtle Adoption Day
Nov. 29: International Jaguar Day
Nov. 29, 2024: Fur-Free Friday (always on Black Friday, day after Thanksgiving)
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