The global range of the Atlantic Walrus includes the central Canadian Arctic to the Kara Sea in the east, Svalbard in the north, and Nova Scotia in the south. Two distinct populations, one east and one west of Greenland, exist within this range. In Canada, the Atlantic Walrus occurs from Bathurst and Prince of Wales islands to Davis Strait, and from James Bay north to Kane Basin. Four distinct Canadian populations still exist: South and East Hudson Bay, Northern Hudson Bay - Davis Strait, Foxe Basin, and Baffin Bay (High Arctic). A fifth Maritime population is considered extirpated.

The Atlantic Walrus is a large, sociable marine mammal with a large body and limbs that have developed into flippers. The front flippers support the body in an upright position. They have a moustache made of quill-like whiskers and their upper canine teeth develop into long tusks; longer and broader in males than females. The skin of the Atlantic Walrus is between two and four cm thick and the colour of their hair varies by age - silver grey in newborns and cinnamon brown in adults. Adult males reach up to 1,100 kg in weight and 3.1 m in length; females 800 kg and 2.8 m. Males mature between 7 and 13 years of age and females mature between 5 and 10 years. Scientists believe they may live more than 35 years.