Reindeer – What Do You Know?

Photo Credit https://unsplash.com/@nicolaslafargue

These majestic beauties remind us of resilience, snowy climes and Christmas happiness. Yet this northern deer species is unusually adapted to their chilly home in ways one would never imagine.

National Wildlife Foundation shares 12 fascinating facts about reindeer that will impress your friends and family:

• 1. In North America reindeer are also called caribou.
• 2. [Reindeer are the only deer species in which] both males and females grow antlers.
• 3. Their noses are specially designed to warm the air before it gets to their lungs.
• 4. Reindeer hooves expand in summer when the ground is soft and shrink in winter when the ground is hard.

• 5. Some subspecies have knees that make a clicking noise when they walk so the animals can stay together in a blizzard.
• 6. Some North American caribou migrate over 3,000 miles in a year – more than any other land mammal.
• 7. Though thought of as a tundra species, a form of caribou lived in southern Idaho until the 19th century. (There are ongoing efforts to re-establish them in the state.)
• 8. Northernmost species are much lighter in color than species at the southern end of their range.
• 9. Reindeer have been herded for centuries by several Arctic and Subarctic peoples.
• 10. The name “reindeer” is of Norse origin (from the old Norse word “hreinn” for deer) and has nothing to do the reins of a sled. The name “caribou” comes to us through the French, from the Mi’kmag “qalipu,” meaning “snow shoveler.”
• 11. Golden eagles are the leading predator of caribou calves in the late spring and fall.
• 12. Once the entire body of a reindeer was found inside a Greenland shark (most likely a case of near-shore scavenging, as opposed to a migrating land shark).

Reindeer are herbivores, meaning they eat a plant-based diet. Yet they can still grow to an impressive size. There are several species and subspecies of reindeer, some of which are larger than others. According to livescience.com, male reindeer grow to 28 to 53 inches (70 to 135 centimeters) tall from hooves to shoulder, and around 5.9 to 6.8 f (1.8 to 2.1 m) long. Females are typically smaller, around 5.5 to 6.2 feet (1.7 to 1.9 m) long. Males weigh 143 to 529 pounds (65 to 240 kilograms), and females weigh 121 to 308 pounds (55 to 140 kg).

Reindeer live to be around 15 in the wild and can get to 20 in captivity. The young ones usually start to grow their annual antlers in their second year. Adult males drop their antlers in November unless they are adolescents who keep them through February. Females, on the other hoof, generally carry theirs until April or May. Females also tend to live longer in the wild than males.

According to Mountain West Animal Hospital, “Reindeer have very little hair on their legs compared to the rest of their body. Reindeer have the ability to cool down their limbs; in other words, when the weather is very cold (about – 30 F) the deer doesn’t spend much heat and energy keeping its lower legs warm. Instead, the temperature in the lower legs is allowed to go down to about 33 F, just above freezing, while the chest and abdomen are still kept at the normal body temperature of 101.5 F. Leg temperature is lowered by the tightening, or constriction, of the blood vessels feeding the legs. In this way, very little warm blood can flow down into the legs. Most of the reindeer’s muscles are up high in the body where they will stay warm and functional. The lower legs and hooves are primarily tendons and ligaments. These can continue to function at low temperatures, and cool leg temperatures have little effect on the reindeer’s ability to run.”

There are so many other cool facts about reindeer, including how they are becoming a threatened species, that you might want to check out the LiveScience.com article. There are also a bunch of great photos from babies to the variations in adults.

If you want to see live reindeer here in Colorado Springs, check out the Hilltop Reindeer Ranch on Facebook. These boys are new to the area, but are making appearances around the Springs and spreading holiday cheer! You can also call 719-626-3096 or email HilltopReindeerRanch@gmail.com for more information.