Reindeer facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1)<\/strong> Reindeer live in the Arctic tundra<\/strong> and damp forests of Greenland<\/strong>, Scandinavia<\/strong>, Russia<\/strong>, Alaska<\/strong> and Canada<\/strong>. In North America, reindeer are known as caribou<\/strong> \u2013 pronounced ‘kar-i-boo!’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2)<\/strong> As the name suggests, reindeer are a species of deer<\/strong>. They are the only deer species in which both the male and<\/em> female can grow antlers<\/strong>. In fact, males’ antlers can grow up to a whopping 1.4 metres<\/strong> in length <\/em>and have as many 44 points, called ‘tines<\/strong>‘.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3)<\/strong> Reindeer can live for up to 15 years in the wild<\/strong>, although domesticated reindeer (reindeer that are cared for by humans), can live for as long as 20 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4)<\/strong> When grazing, a reindeer\u2019s preferred food is a lichen<\/strong> \u2013 a fungi, moss-like plant that\u2019s often found in high, open spaces. In fact, it’s so popular with reindeers that it\u2019s now become known as ‘reindeer lichen<\/strong>!’<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5)<\/strong> Humans have hunted reindeer for thousands of years for their meat<\/strong>, milk<\/strong>, fur<\/strong> and antlers<\/strong> \u2013 which can be fashioned into tools. For groups of people in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Finland), Russia, China and Mongolia, reindeer herding is an ancient and important part of their culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6)<\/strong> Male reindeer can grow up to 1.2 metres<\/strong> tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 250 kilograms<\/strong> \u2013 that\u2019s over three times the weight of an average person! Females are a little smaller than males.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7) <\/strong>These beautiful beasts may be big, but they are still the target of hungry predators<\/strong>! Wolverines<\/strong>, bears<\/strong>, and even eagles<\/strong> are just some of the animals that prey on reindeer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8)<\/strong> Reindeer spend up to 40% of their lives in snow<\/strong>, so they’ve developed special adaptations<\/strong> to help them survive the chilly conditions. Their cloven hooves<\/strong> (divided into two) spread their weight, helping them stand on snow and soft ground. Their hollow fur<\/strong> helps to trap heat, and they’re good swimmers<\/strong>, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Reindeer](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Reindeer-facts-3.jpg\")
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