Female offspring remain in their mothersO group, but young males disperse at around 2-3 years old to join a herd of males. Bulls provide no parental care for the young, but community care of offspring by other females has been observed. Their seasonal migration patterns coincide with the changes in the ice. In the winter, walruses move south as the Arctic ice expands, and in the summer they retreat north as the ice recedes. This migration can cover distances of 3000 km.
Individuals concentrate where the ice is relatively thin and dispersed in the winter.
In the summer time, bulls may use isolated coastal beaches and rocky islets. In the early 10th century, Viking traders began taking large numbers, and this European decimation of walruses continued until the early 20th century. Walruses are now managed by governments but continue to be killed. Negative Aside from humans hunting them, walruses have little contact with people. Although walrus populations had declined drastically by the early 20th century, management programs have resulted in the dramatic rebound of the Pacific population.