Quick answer
Walruses feed on carnivore — clams, molluscs, and occasional seals or seabirds, adjusting seasonally based on local habitat and prey or plant availability.
Diet overview
Walruss are mammals that rely on carnivore — clams, molluscs, and occasional seals or seabirds. Walruses are massive pinnipeds of the Arctic, with males weighing up to 1,700 kg (3,750 lb) and sporting elongated canine tusks used for hauling out on ice, fighting, and sensing the seafloor. They feed mainly on clams and molluscs on shallow seabeds and gather in huge haul-outs on ice or land.
Feeding behaviour
Foraging strategy varies by season. Walruses may hunt, graze, filter-feed, or scavenge depending on ecology.
Role in the food web
As mammals, they interact with predators, prey, and competitors across their range.
Human-related feeding risks
Never feed wild walruses — it habituates animals to people and can spread disease.
Sources
FAQs
What do walruses eat?
Carnivore — clams, molluscs, and occasional seals or seabirds.
Are walruses carnivores or herbivores?
Their diet is best described as: carnivore — clams, molluscs, and occasional seals or seabirds.
Do walruses change diet seasonally?
Yes — many species shift food sources as seasons and prey abundance change.
Can I feed wild walruses?
No — feeding wild animals is unsafe and often illegal.