They’re famous for pulling Santa’s sleigh, but how much do you really know about reindeer? Read on for five fun facts about reindeer, also known as caribou.
1. Both male and female reindeer have antlers.
Reindeer are the only deer species where both the males and females have antlers. And these antlers are BIG! Reindeer have the longest and heaviest antlers of all deer. In fact, a male reindeer’s antlers can span as long as 1.3 m (51 in.)!
2. A reindeer’s antlers fall off every year.
Yes, every year, reindeer’s antlers fall off. But don’t worry! New ones grow back even larger! Male reindeer lose their antlers in November and grow them back in the spring. Female reindeer lose their antlers in May after their calves are born.
3. Reindeer have hollow fur.
Two coats of fur help keep reindeer insulated from the cold. They have a fine, wooly inner coat, and on the outside, they have long, hollow guard hairs. These guard hairs trap air to keep the reindeer warm. The trapped air also helps reindeer to float while swimming!
4. Reindeer have furry feet.
Reindeer have long hairs on their hoofs, including the bottoms of their feet! This helps keep their tootsies toasty and provides grip on the snow and ice.
5. Reindeer are the only domesticated deer species.
Wild reindeer inhabit the tundra and boreal forests of the Arctic, across North America and Eurasia. But some reindeer are domesticated! In fact, reindeer were first domesticated at least 3000 years ago by Arctic people. Domesticated reindeer are used to pull sleds and for food.
So there you have it! Hope you enjoyed our roundup of five fun facts about reindeer just in time for the holiday season.
