Reindeer evolved 1 million years ago. They emerged as the most recent deer species. This means they haven’t changed over time. They live in extreme cold climates. In some Arctic areas, they endure -67°C temperatures!
In fact, reindeer live in Northern Asia, Europe, Siberia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland. In one year, a herd travels up to 3,000 miles! Reindeer have adapted to survive the cold.
The first account of Santa’s reindeer was in 1821. Most people assumed they were male. But a scientist says those people were wrong. Science says Santa’s reindeer are female. Surprise! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolf, are ladies.
It was written by an American named Clement Clarke Moore in 1823. This poem spread misconceptions of Santa Claus and his reindeer.
Their fur colors vary! Peary caribou have white fur while Woodland caribou have dark fur. Reindeer really do have red noses! More blood vessels and oxygen-rich blood keeps their noses warm.
Reindeer have circumpolar distribution across Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes migratory and non-migratory populations. About 25,000 mountain reindeer live in Norway. Sweden has 250,000 reindeer herds managed by Sami villages. Russia has 19 Siberian tundra reindeer herds of 940,000. The Taimyr herd is the largest wild group.
It’s hard not to think of Rudolf. But there’s more to reindeer. If you want to know more, check these facts! The Latin name for reindeer is Rangifer tarandus. In North America, they are called caribou. Caribou comes from the Mi’kmaq tribe’s word qalipu, meaning “snow shoveller.” They live in Arctic and subarctic areas.
When did reindeer go extinct?
Reindeer were hunted to extinction in Scotland in the 13th century. Wild herds roamed freely until Vikings and climate change led to their disappearance about 800 years ago. Recently only about 130 individuals exist in the Cairngorms. Reindeer remain in Norway. Some were introduced to the South Atlantic island of South Georgia in the 20th century. The 26 hundred reindeer caused environmental damage and were eradicated between 2013-2017.
Reindeer live in cold climates like the Arctic but also in Scotland’s Cairngorm Mountains. The Cairngorm Reindeer Center in Aviemore allows visitors to see the herd. Most reindeer exist in northern Europe and Russia. A few semi-domesticated reindeer live in the Cairngorms region of Scotland. Norway has the last remaining wild tundra reindeer in Europe.
During the late Pleistocene era, reindeer lived further south in North America and Europe. An extinct subspecies existed in the Arctic as the Greenland caribou or East Greenland caribou until 1900. Archaeological evidence shows Eurasian forest reindeer descended from an extinct forest reindeer, not from tundra reindeer. Genetic analysis distinguishes modern reindeer from primitive extinct forms without extreme cold adaptations.
Ice Age megafauna became extinct due to climate change and human hunting. Warmer climates changed environments. There were more forests and less food. Reindeer cover themselves fully in hair from nose to hooves. “The Night Before Christmas” poem first described Santa’s sleigh and reindeer, but Saami people herded reindeer for thousands of years earlier.
How many reindeer are left?
There are about 7 million wild and domesticated reindeer worldwide. About 90% of all wild tundra reindeer live in Norway. In the 18th and 19th centuries, so many were tamed that there were almost no wild ones left. On average, reindeer live 15 to 18 years. Newly born reindeer calves can outrun an Olympic sprinter at only a day old. Many herds are in decline due to climate change and habitat disturbance. The number one cause is inbreeding, as populations are split into small, shrinking groups with few mating options. Without more genetic variation, populations will collapse. Poaching is also a problem as antlers fetch a high price; both males and females have them. There are currently around 3.5 million caribou in North America and around 3 million domestic reindeer in northern Europe. Canada’s only herd lives in the Northwest Territories near the North Pole. The generally quoted figure for domesticated reindeer is 3 million. Reindeer husbandry is significant in Russia where they are used for meat, skins and antlers. In 2013, Russia’s Taimyr herd was the world’s largest with 1,000,000 animals. There are also large migratory herds in central Siberia’s Yakutia region.
Why are they called reindeer?
The word “reindeer” comes from the Old Norse word “hreinin, ” which means “horned animal.” In most deer species, only the male deer grow antlers. All reindeer and caribou species currently fall under the same species, Rangifer tarandus. The subspecies native to North America are called caribou, while those in Europe and Asia are reindeer. Recent proposals suggest regrouping the single existing species into at least six different full species, with subspecies placed under those.
They are called Reindeer because the name “Reindeer” comes from the Old Norse word “hreindýri,” which means “reindeer” or “horned animal.” It refers to their characteristic antlers. Reindeer are herbivores and primarily feed on a diet consisting of grass, sedges, mosses, and lichens. In winter, they make do with lichen (also called reindeer moss) and fungi, scraping the snow away with their hooves to get it.
The species is widespread throughout northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, the wild subspecies are called “caribou.” In Eurasia, both wild and domesticated animals are called reindeer. Caribou are found throughout Alaska and northern Canada, and along the west coast of Greenland.
Reindeer normally have single births. The calves grow rapidly and can weigh 125 pounds by the time they are 4 months old. Shortly after birth, a reindeer will be able to run. Like other mammals, calves feed on milk from their mother when they are born. A reindeer’s milk has more fat than a cow’s milk.
Caribou are called reindeer because of their different geographic location and similar appearances. Usually, in North America, they are called caribou, whereas in Northern Europe and in Asia, they are known as reindeer. In North America, these animals are domesticated. When domesticated, they are called reindeer.
A healthy adult reindeer is usually safe from predators, especially in a large herd. The gestation length is 7.5 months. The baby reindeer are called calves, which are born beginning in April. Mother reindeer usually give birth to a single calf, although there may be twins.