Reindeer
Life in a herd
During the Ice Age, reindeer were found in our region. They live in herds and migrate throughout the year from the tundra to higher elevations. Their hooves are wide, which allows them to move across soft, slippery ground.
In reindeer, the females also have antlers! The rutting season takes place in the fall, and the calves are born in the spring. The mother isolates herself with her newborn for a few days before rejoining the herd.
IUCN status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN)
Description
Rangifer tarandus
Deer
80 to 150kg
1m
Tundra and taiga
Vulnerable
12 to 15 year
Did you know?
The reindeer is the only member of the deer family to have been domesticated. The Sami people use its hide, meat, and milk, and rely on it as a draft animal. Its North American cousin is called the caribou. Its biggest enemies are flies and mosquitoes.
Food
It feeds on grasses, leaves, twigs, and lichens.
