HABITAT

Reindeer are native to that Arctic tundra region an area north of the Arctic Circle centering on the North Pole just below the ice caps of the Arctic. The tundra is a treeless plain with a short growing season, little rain and temperatures that range from about -40F to 64F.

ADAPTATION

Incredibly well adapted to live in the harsh tundra regions of the artic, rangifer tarandus is possibly one of the first animals to be domesticated over 2000 years ago by the peoples of the Sami regions. Following are some of the special physical features that allow reindeeer to survive the cold winters, feed on the tundra vegetation and raise young during the short summers.

FIBER

Furry hair consists of two types; long coarse guard hairs that have hollow cores and number about 5,000 per square inch and very fine wool hairs that are as dense as 13,000 per sq. inch. Together the guard hairs and wool hairs form a thick insulating mesh that traps air within and between the hairs. The insulating quality of reindeer hair prevents heat loss through the skin and is so great that reindeer can rest comfortably for long periods of time on cold snow. You can examine the reindeer bed and see that the surface of the snow did not melt where the animal was resting.

In winter the hair is multicolored and in summer when the guard hairs fall out they are darker. Reindeer are extremely well camouflaged concealing them from predators.

Except for a few around the nose, reindeer do not have sweat glands. They rely on panting to eliminate heat.

HOOVES

Broad hooves and dew claws enable the reindeer to travel across deep snow easily—just like walking on snowshoes. This special design also allow the reindeer to dig through snow in search of food. They can dig “feeding craters” when the snow is as deep as three feet and even chip through hard and crusted snow. Close examination of the hoof shows hairs that extend down and across the pad. These are thought to enable the reindeer to better control the movement of it’s feet and prevent slipping on ice

FOOD

Reindeer are herbivores selecting high quality leafy forage in the spring. Preferred plants include; emerging buds, leaves and flowers. They're especially fond of dandelions. Winter choices include willow leaves, forbs and mushrooms and lichens. Also known as reindeer moss, lichens are formed by a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi. They are slow growing and long lived with some species living up to hundreds of years. They contain mostly carbohydrates.

Captive reindeer are fed a balanced diet of commercially prepared grains and supplements with free choice finely chopped alfalfa hay. Beet pulp pellets, soy meal, rolled barley and oats and alfalfa pellets are included in the grain mix.

Reindeer eat large quantities of highly nutritious green vegetation in the summer months putting on muscle mass and depositing large pads of fat beneath the skin to help survive the long cold winter when food supplies are more scarce. Because they expend less energy during the winter reindeer have evolved to survive the winter by lowering their metabolic rate and movements and by using their body tissues for only essential functions

Even given a choice of cold or warm fresh water a reindeer will choose utilize body heat to warm and melt snow for drinking water.

NOSE

Reindeer nostrils are highly developed for water and heat conservation. A cross-section would look like a rolled newspaper. They are specialized structures that increase the surface area within the nostril warming the incoming air before it reaches the lungs. Water in expired air condenses in the cooler portion of the nostrils, moistens the incoming air and is abosorbed back into the blood. This is why you’ll seldom see the reindeer’s breath on a cold day. Hairs on the face extend down almost completely covering the lips to protect the muzzle from frostbite. The lips are prehensile-like. They have no upper front teeth or incisors.

MILK

Reindeer milk is extremely high in fat and protein. Sea mammals are the only other animals that produce a more concentrated milk. Calves are able to grow and develop rapidly during the short artic summer with this highly nutritious food.

adapted from "Reindeer Roundup" courtesy of the Reindeer Research Program,

University of Alaska Fairbanks