What Do You Know About Reindeer?
What is special about reindeer antlers?
- They are the only deer species that see both males and females growing antlers.
Approximately how long can reindeer live in the wild?
- They can live up to 15 years in the wild, and around 20 years in cared-far captivity like a zoo or sanctuary.
What is the reindeer’s preferred grazing food?
- These herbivore ungulates love to munch on lichen if given the choice!
How tall can the males in reindeer herds grow?
- These large creatures can grow tall and weigh up to 550 pounds.
What are some of the predators that reindeer need to fear?
- Though reindeer are large, they’re not safe from all predators— and even the babies can be picked off by eagles.
Approximately how much of a reindeer’s life is spent in the snow?
- Because of their chilly surroundings, reindeer have adapted to be resilient and thrive in these conditions.
Reindeer are used for pulling sleighs and sleds often, but if you were to ride on one, where would you sit?
- Because the reindeer’s back is not as strong as its shoulders, a rider needs to sit there to keep the animal from being in pain.
What animal is the same as the reindeer?
- Reindeer are part of the same deer family as the Caribou and share the same name— Rangifer tarandus.
What is special about reindeer antlers?
- Unlike horns, antlers are fuzzy and after being shed, will grow back each year.
What is special about a reindeer’s nose?
- Reindeer noses are definitely special— even if they don’t glow red!
