Southern elephant seals at a wallow. Elephant seals gather in these wallows, or muddy pits, during their molting season, and use the mud and friction to help shed dead skin. Wallows have a very strong odor made up of seal musk and feces, and are comprised of thick, peaty mud.

Species: Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina
Photo Credit: Ray Buchheit
Year Taken: 2010
Contact: SWFSC AMLR Program