Reindeer are animals that come from Scandinavia and Northern Russia. They have wide hooves and antlers and are closely related to deer and caribou. http://boreale.konto.itv.se/bovts.htm8 In fact, the reindeer is the only member of the deer family in which the females produce antlers. http://www.bearcountryusa.com/animals/animal_info.php?id=159 Reindeer are mammals in the order of Artioldactyl and the family Cervidae. http://www.facts-about.org.uk/animals-reindeer.htm10 Reindeer are semi-domesticated and have been, starting in Eurasia, for 7000 years or more. Being domesticated makes them more vulnerable to outside predators and dependant on herders and range owners when it comes to finding a plentiful grazing area. http://www.bearcountryusa.com/animals/animal_info.php?id=1511
Reindeer eat lichen, grass and are especially fond of mushrooms. They tend to follow their own path to the most densely vegetable-filled areas, making it harder on the herders to control where they go. However, the females tend to travle more in herds, while the males like to stick to themselves. http://www.facts-about.org.uk/animals-reindeer.htm12 In the winter, the reindeer travel to wooded areas, and in the spring and summer they like the breeze. http://www.bearcountryusa.com/animals/animal_info.php?id=1513 Some wildlife experts say that reindeer are at risk of becoming an endangered species, and some say that they already are. http://www.facts-about.org.uk/animals-reindeer.htm14
The Christmas Myth
Reindeer are commonly assiciated with Christmas, and are depicted in pictures and film as the flying animals that lead Santa's sleigh. In actuallity, reindeers cannot fly, but they are able to travel about 40 miles a day and can pull a sled, on foot, holding up to twice their body weight. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/reindeer.aspx12
The myth of the flying reindeer comes from the Nordic Shamans from the Finnish Lapland who herded the deer. These people would use hallucinatory mushrooms to get visions, and the drug that both the Nordics and the reindeer ate, induced the belief that one is able to fly. This practice started the story of Santa and his flying reindeer. In fact, the color of Santa's outfit comes from the colors of the type of mushroom the Nordics hallucinated to. http://webhome.idirect.com/g/globalnet/cmas/reindeer/index.html
Featured Video
This is a clip from BBC's nature show, "Weird Nature." This video explains the relation between reindeer and the Christmas myth that they can fly. It talks about the reindeer's love of a certain hallucinatory mushroom and how the drug can highten the senses in humans, allowing them the belief that they can fly. The strange but true nature of the myth of the flying reindeer is unveiled in this short video.
References
Fast Facts
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Height
About 3 and a half feet from the hoof to the shoulder
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Length
About 3 and a half feet from the shoulder to the back side
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Weight
At maturity, females are around 175 pounds and males are around 210 pounds
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Also Known As
Greenland Caribou
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Lifespan
About 10 to 15 years
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Habits
Tend to move around in herds and eat grass, leaves and mushrooms
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Found In
Primarily in Scandinavia and Russia
