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Reindeer, or caribou, are members of the deer family, Cervidae. Deer, elk, moose, and wapiti are also members of this family. The distinction between reindeer and caribou mainly depends on where they live. Usually we refer to Eurasian populations as reindeer and most North American populations as caribou. However, we use the term “reindeer” to describe domesticated caribou, including those in North America.
reindeer antlers are the largest and heaviest of all living deer species. Unlike other deer species, female reindeer antlers can grow. The male antler can reach fifty one centimeters while the female antler can reach twenty centimeters. Still, you might be wondering where reindeer live. We’re going to find out if reindeer really share an Arctic home with Santa and which countries you can find them in!
Are reindeer in the North Pole?
Reindeer don’t live in the North Pole, despite what you may have heard in folklore. However, a few Arctic caribou can be discovered in the tundra. Formed by the coniferous forests of the Arctic taiga, the Arctic tundra circles the North Pole. It stretches from Alaska to Canada to Russia to Greenland to Iceland. Winters in this area are long and dry, with months of complete darkness and extremely low temperatures.
But the reindeer or caribou populations in the northern countries closest to the Arctic are rapidly declining. Reindeer and caribou have shrunk by 56% since the mid-1990s. Reindeer not only affect the landscape, but also those who depend on it. Herds have been declining for decades due to hunting, disease, food shortages and climate change.
Where do reindeer live?
Reindeer live in the far northern regions of Europe, North America and Asia. They enjoy colder climates such as tundra and boreal forests. We can find them in northern countries including:
- Canada
- Greenland
- Norway
- Russia
- Alaska
Reindeer are attracted to regions with harsh topography and long, cold winters. However, there is no need to worry! They are made to survive the cold. There is a thick layer of hair that covers their entire body down to their feet!
Reindeer rarely live below the 50th parallel (most of the US-Canada border is the 49th parallel). In addition, there are no reindeer in the southern hemisphere. Reindeer and penguins have never interbred in nature, although they do have to cope with Arctic predators such as polar bears.
Can reindeer live anywhere in the world?
Although reindeer are native to the Arctic, they can live in all sorts of climates! For example, the Cairngorms Mountains in the far north of Scotland are home to the UK’s only wild reindeer herd. The Cairngorm Reindeer Center in Aviemore is an excellent place to see the herd.
a herd of reindeer (caribou) and a herd of muskoxen share the same territory at Alaska’s Large Animal Research Station. The year-round facility opened in 1976 as part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. And in the highlands of Swedish Lapland near the Torne, a Sami couple has been taming and herding reindeer for 30 years. Reindeer often roam the grounds.
Examples like these abound. There are currently more than 2.5 million domesticated reindeer in nine countries, and more than 100,000 people are in their care!
Where are reindeer in America?
Reindeer are found in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, as well as the Boreal Forest and the Canadian Rockies in North America. If you want to see domesticated reindeer in the US, there are several ranches and ranches where you can observe domesticated reindeer during the holiday season.
Ranches can be found across the United States, from Washington to Utah and Michigan. Reindeer can be found in certain zoos at certain times of the year. It’s always a good idea to do some preliminary research. Google “reindeer farms near me” to see if any exist in your area. To find reindeer in the wild, the best place to go is Alaska. While some Rockies reindeer can extend south into northern Idaho and Montana, reindeer are commonly found in Alaska.
Are reindeer going extinct?
The global reindeer population is estimated at five million, including 900,000 Alaskan caribou. Predation and disease currently seem to determine the size of the reindeer herd. Overhunting has cause
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some reindeer populations to decline in the past. Despite strict anti-hunting laws, poaching continues in Russia. Logging and winter sports can disrupt the reindeer habitat in Finland. Hybridization with domestic reindeer is a problem for some populations.
white-tailed deer move to reindeer habitats as Arctic temperatures rise. These deer are infested with a worm infection that kills moose and reindeer. Insect activity increases as the weather warms. Insects can make it difficult for reindeer to gain the weight they need to survive the winter.
The tundra is also changing. Some examples are the expansion of oil exploration, industrial expansion and the increase in noise from aviation and snowmobiles. Since humans and machines have existed, reindeer have been able to adapt. But reindeer The demands of herds will remain an ongoing concern as humanity continues to develop the Arctic.
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