The Arctic’s largest seal species, the walrus is a fascinating animal to observe in the wild. Weighing up to 4,500 lbs, these marine mammals are probably best known for the two long straight tusks which are extended canine teeth stemming from their upper jaw and can reach lengths of over three feet and weights of 12 lbs.
Walruses use their tusks for proving dominance in males, maintaining ice holes used for breathing, helping to haul their massive bodies out of the water, and scratching for much of the rest of the time. In previous centuries their tusks were used by man to veneer the white keys of pianos, making the walrus a vulnerable species at risk of potentially becoming endangered.
Although large, walruses consume little more than bivalve mollusks, which they are able to seek out in the seabed of the continental shelf thanks to their sensitive cat-like whiskers. Despite being able to dive to depths of around 1,700 feet, their need to remain close to shore makes them a relatively easy Arctic species to observe. They congregate in their largest numbers in the late summer and the fall, when tens of thousands of individuals can be spotted on beaches and on shallow shore lines.
There are populations in northern Alaska, Canada and Greenland in North America, and Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago in Europe. One walrus recently made it has far as the south coast of England before heading to Iceland, becoming a local celebrity as a result.
To see the largest specimens, you’ll want to head to Alaska, home to the Pacific subspecies of walrus, which are between 10-20% larger than their Atlantic cousins. Aerial surveys estimate the Pacific population of walruses to total around 130,000 animals, while the Atlantic population is substantially lower in number.
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Other Arctic Wildlife
Arctic Fox / Arctic Hare / Arctic Wolf / Caribou / Musk Ox / Polar Bear / Bearded Seal / Beluga Whale / Narwhal / Ringed Seal / Arctic Tern / Gyrfalcon / Puffin / Snowy Owl
