If you’ve ever stood on a pier in the Arctic or watched a nature documentary, you might think you know the answer. Most people imagine a deep, wet grunt. Maybe a bark similar to a sea lion, just heavier. But honestly? The truth is way weirder than that. When you ask what does a walrus sound like, you aren’t just asking about one noise. You’re asking about a biological orchestra that includes everything from melodic chiming bells to the sound of a literal jackhammer tearing up a sidewalk.
Walruses are loud. They are also incredibly versatile. While a lion roars and a bird chirps, a walrus has this bizarre ability to manipulate its throat, chest, and air sacs to create sounds that seem almost mechanical. It's unsettling. It’s also fascinating.
The Physical Machinery Behind the Noise
To understand why they sound so strange, you have to look at their anatomy. Walruses have these massive pharyngeal pouches. Think of them like built-in inflatable speakers located on either side of their esophagus. They can pump these pouches full of air—up to 50 liters in some cases—which allows them to float vertically in the water like a bobber. But more importantly for us, these pouches act as resonance chambers.
When a male walrus is trying to impress a female or warn off a rival, he uses these pouches to create a "bell" sound. It’s a pure, metallic clink or gong that can carry for miles underwater. It doesn't sound like an animal. It sounds like someone dropped a wrench into a deep well.
Then there are the vibrissae. Those iconic whiskers aren’t just for show. They are highly sensitive tactile organs, and while they don't produce sound themselves, the way a walrus moves its snout and lips while foraging creates a series of wet, sloppy clicks and suctions. Because they eat by vacuuming mollusks out of their shells, their "eating noises" are powerful enough to be heard by divers from a significant distance.
What Does a Walrus Sound Like Underwater?
The surface noises are just the tip of the iceberg. Literally.
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Underwater, the walrus soundscape becomes a chaotic mix of percussion and melody. Researchers like Dr. Colleen Reichmuth from the University of California, Santa Cruz, have spent years recording these animals. They’ve found that breeding males have "songs." These aren't like whale songs, which are often haunting and fluid. Walrus songs are rhythmic and repetitive.
They consist of:
- Knocks: Sharp, percussive sounds that resemble a hammer hitting wood.
- Taps: Lighter, faster clicks.
- Bells: The aforementioned metallic ringing that serves as the "hook" of their song.
- Pulses: Low-frequency thumps that you can feel in your chest if you’re close enough.
Male Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) are particularly famous for this. During the winter breeding season, they perform these acoustic displays for hours on end. Imagine a construction site where the foreman is also trying to play the xylophone. That’s the vibe.
Barking, Grunting, and "The Chainsaw"
On land (or on the ice), the sounds change. They become much more "fleshy." When a walrus is hauled out on a beach with thousands of its friends, the noise is deafening.
It’s a constant barrage of low-frequency bellows. If you’ve ever heard a very large dog with a very bad cold try to clear its throat, you’re halfway there. But then there’s the "whistle." Walruses can purse their lips and emit a high-pitched, almost human-sounding whistle. It’s used often by calves trying to find their mothers in a crowd of five thousand identical-looking brown lumps.
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The most aggressive sound is often compared to a chainsaw or a heavy motor. This is a rapid-fire series of grunts that vibrates the air. It’s a "stay away" signal. If you hear this, and you’re a human or a rival male, you’ve messed up. The sheer volume is staggering. A walrus can reach decibel levels that rival a rock concert, especially when they are agitated or competing for space on a limited piece of sea ice.
Misconceptions and Why They Matter
A lot of people confuse walruses with elephant seals. It’s an easy mistake. Both are huge, blubbery, and live in cold places. But elephant seals have that "snorkel" nose that produces a wet, gurgling roar. Walruses are much more "clicky" and "metallic."
There’s also the myth that they are just "noisy cows." They aren't. Cows have a very limited vocal range. A walrus is more like a beatboxer. They use their tongue, their teeth (though not much), their throat muscles, and those specialized air sacs to create a vocabulary that we are still trying to decode.
Why do they do it? It’s mostly about real estate and sex. On the ice, it’s "this is my spot, don't touch me." In the water, it’s "I am the strongest male with the best bell-ringing skills, please choose me."
The Impact of Climate Change on the Walrus Soundscape
This is where things get serious. Walruses rely on sea ice for "hauling out"—basically resting and giving birth. As the ice melts due to rising global temperatures, walruses are forced onto land in massive numbers. This is called a "haul-out."
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When you cram 30,000 walruses onto a single beach in Alaska or Russia, the acoustic environment changes. It becomes a wall of sound. This isn't just a fun fact; it's a survival issue. In these crowded conditions, stampedes are common. A sudden loud noise—like a low-flying plane or a boat engine—can panic the herd. In the resulting chaos, calves are often crushed.
The sound of a panicked walrus colony is a harrowing, high-pitched scream. It’s a stark contrast to the rhythmic, confident "bells" of a male swimming in open water.
How to Hear Them Yourself
If you want to experience what a walrus sounds like without trekking to the Chukchi Sea, you have a few options.
- Research Archives: Organizations like the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have extensive recordings. Search for Odobenus rosmarus.
- Aquariums: While nothing beats the wild, some large-scale aquariums (like the Vancouver Aquarium or SeaWorld) have rescued walruses. You can often hear their "whistles" and "chirps" during feeding times.
- Live Cams: Explore.org often hosts live feeds from Round Island or other major haul-out sites during the summer months. Turn your volume up.
Quick Summary of Walrus Vocalizations
Instead of a boring chart, let's just look at the "Top Hits" of the walrus world. You’ve got the Bell, which is the underwater mating call. You’ve got the Bellow, the "get off my foot" land noise. You have the Whistle, used by babies and socialites. And finally, the Click, which is the bread and butter of their underwater communication.
Each of these sounds serves a specific purpose. They aren't just making noise because they can. They are talking to each other across vast distances and through thick layers of ice.
Actionable Insights for Wildlife Enthusiasts
If you are planning to observe walruses or just want to be a better-informed citizen scientist, keep these points in mind:
- Respect the Silence: If you are ever in a position to view walruses in the wild, noise discipline is everything. Human-made noises (engines, shouting, drones) can cause deadly stampedes. Always stay at least 300 yards away.
- Listen for the "Bell": If you are on a boat in Arctic waters and hear a rhythmic clanking against the hull, it might not be the engine. It might be a male walrus using your boat as a resonator for his mating song.
- Support Sea Ice Conservation: The "sound" of the walrus is intrinsically tied to the sea ice. Supporting organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) or the Alaska SeaLife Center helps preserve the quiet, icy habitats these animals need to "sing" effectively.
- Use High-Quality Audio: If you’re a teacher or a parent showing kids what a walrus sounds like, find "hydrophone" recordings. Surface recordings don't do justice to the complexity of their vocalizations.
The world of the walrus is loud, messy, and surprisingly musical. Next time you see a picture of those giant tusks, don't just think about the weight. Think about the 50-liter air sacs and the underwater bells. It's a symphony of the strange.