Did you know that reindeer have been used by humans since the Bronze and Iron Ages? It is hard not to think of Rudolph when you hear the word reindeer, but these animals are far more fascinating than holiday stories suggest.
01) The scientific name of the reindeer is Rangifer tarandus.
02) In North America, reindeer are known as caribou. The word comes from the Mi’kmaq term qalipu, which means “snow shoveller.”
03) Reindeer are native to Arctic and Subarctic regions across Europe, Asia, and North America.
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04) They are one of the few deer species where both males and females grow antlers.
05) Adult male reindeer usually shed their antlers in December after the mating season.
06) Younger males lose their antlers in early spring.
07) Female reindeer keep their antlers through winter and shed them in summer.
08) Reindeer antlers grow back every year and are covered in a soft fur called velvet while growing.
09) Male reindeer use their antlers to fight other males during the mating season.
10) Reindeer have been hunted for thousands of years for their meat, hides, milk, and antlers.
11) Domesticated reindeer are believed to have existed since at least the Bronze and Iron Ages.
12) A fully grown male reindeer can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh as much as 700 pounds.
13) Female reindeer are smaller and usually weigh between 120 and 300 pounds.
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14) Svalbard reindeer are much smaller than other types due to island dwarfism.
Reindeer living farther north often have lighter or white fur, while southern reindeer are darker.
15) Their fur has two layers: a thick woolly undercoat and hollow hairs on top that trap air for warmth.
16) Reindeer hooves change with the seasons. In summer they are soft for grip, and in winter they harden to walk on ice and snow.
17) Their wide hooves also help them dig through snow to reach food underneath.
18) Reindeer are herbivores and eat moss, grass, leaves, and lichens.
19) They have four-chambered stomachs that help them digest tough Arctic plants.
20) Reindeer can slow their metabolism in winter to save energy.
21) Scientists believe reindeer are the only mammals that can see ultraviolet light, helping them spot predators and food in snow.
22) Wolves are one of the main predators of reindeer, especially targeting young or weak individuals.
23) Humans use nearly every part of a reindeer, including meat, organs, hide, and bones.
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24) Reindeer milk is very rich in fat and nutrients and is still used by Arctic communities today.
25) Large groups of reindeer migrate long distances, sometimes traveling over 3,000 miles a year.
26) Reindeer noses are specially designed to warm cold air before it reaches their lungs.
27) Their legs are strong and built for walking long distances across snow and ice.
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28) Reindeer play a vital role in Arctic ecosystems by helping control plant growth.
29) Santa’s most famous reindeer are Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.
30) Reindeer are excellent swimmers and can cross wide rivers and lakes, using their hollow fur to stay buoyant while migrating.