Fun Facts

-Reindeer are the only deer species in which males and females both have antlers; mature males (bulls) carry gigantic branched Gifmania. 2009. "reindeer4_wreathswing_md_wht." (image). <http://www.gifmania.co.uk/christmas/reindeer/index2.htm>. Accessed 14 April 2009antlers whereas the females (cows) and calves have smaller, simpler ones. 

 

-The antlers of a castrated male are also reduced in size in relation to uncastrated.9

 Unknown. 2008. "Reindeer." (image). <http://www.freeclipartnow.com/animals/reindeers/Reindeer.jpg.html>. Accessed 10 April 2009.

-Reindeer are able to migrate farther than any other terrestrial animal—up to 5,000 kilometers a year! 17

 

-Reindeer can run at speeds between 36 and 48 miles per hour, and can swim at 6 miles an hour.10

 

-The caribou was first described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758.10 

 

-Reindeer first interacted with humans 3,000 years ago. 10Animation Playhouse. 2009. "dillydance2." (image). <http://www.animationplayhouse.com/new/reindeer1.html>. Accessed 14 April 2009.

 

-They are the only deer to be widely domesticated; there are 3 million of them domesticated in northern Eurasia and Alaska today. 10

 

-The Christmas story and the origin of flying reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh may have originated from consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms!

 

-The words Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen originated from Clement Moore's 1822 poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas.”19

 

-Rudolph originated in a story written by Robert May in 1939 for the Montgomery Ward Chicago department store as a promotion for customers that Christmas season.19

 Hatzigeorgiou, K. 2008. "reindeer-pictures-3." (image). <http://karenswhimsy.com/reindeer-pictures.shtm>. Accessed 10 April 2009.

 

                                 

If you want to learn more about reindeer other than what you find on this site, check out the sources I used as references.

     

 

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