where do reindeer migrate to and from

Like monarch butterflies that instinctually return to their summer homes in the forests of central Mexico, reindeer begin their migration from northern Canada and Greenland in search of warmer weather. Reindeer can’t fly year-round. As winter approaches and food supplies dwindle, they begin losing weight.

Full Answer

Where do reindeer live in North America?

Full Article reindeer, (Rangifer tarandus), in North America called caribou, species of deer (family Cervidae) found in the Arctic tundra and adjacent boreal forests of Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska, and Canada. Reindeer have been domesticated in Europe.

How do reindeer migrate in Finland?

Huge herds, hundreds of reindeer in each, amble slowly across the undulating landscape of white plains, driven forward by herders on snowmobiles; the spring migration on the Finnmarksvidda plateau is underway. Over just a few weeks in April, hundreds of thousands of reindeer will move from the plain to the coast.

Why were reindeer moved from border regions?

Reindeer and herders were moved from border regions, preventing reindeer from following their traditional migrations and halting trade and exchange that had sustained herders and the settled population for centuries.

Are reindeer sedentary or migratory?

Some herds are basically sedentary – preferring to stay in one location – while other herds are migratory – meaning they move great distances as a unit. The herd of the Siberian tundra, known as the Taimyr Herd of Reindeer is the largest herd of wild reindeer in the world, and its numbers vary from 400,000 all the way up to 1,000,000 Reindeer.

How far do reindeer travel when they migrate?

3,100 milesMigration (behavioural) Reindeer migrate further than any other terrestrial animal, as much as 5,000 km (3,100 miles) a year. However some groups of reindeer don't migrate at all.

Why do reindeer have to migrate?

Food can be scarce in the Arctic winter, so reindeer must keep moving to find enough. In spring, pregnant reindeer congregate for weeks in calving grounds to give birth and nurture their newborn.

Where do reindeer live in the winter?

the ArcticReindeer live primarily in the Arctic, where winter is drastically colder and darker than the summer. Reindeer hooves are soft during warmer months, but in the winter, their hooves become hard and sharp for breaking through the ice to forage vegetation.

Where do the most reindeer live?

Reindeer are found in a large circumpolar region surrounding the North Pole, in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, northern Europe and northern Asia in tundra, mountains and woodland habitats. Their home ranges can be as big as 190 square miles (500 square km), according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

What is a female reindeer called?

CowsMale Reindeers are Bulls and Females are Cows Male reindeer are also called bull or stag, and female reindeer are referred to as cows.

How do reindeer know when to migrate?

The route depends on the weather and time of day They often drive the reindeer at night, because the night frost forms a light crust that is easy to walk on, but then they rest when the afternoon sun makes the snow wet and slushy. In other words, the route is only actually decided on the move.

What are 5 facts about reindeer?

Fun Facts about Reindeer and CaribouReindeer and caribou are the same animal (Rangifer tarandus) and are a member of the deer family. ... Both male and female reindeer grow antlers, while in most other deer species, only the males have antlers. ... Unlike horns, antlers fall off and grow back larger each year.More items...•

What temperature is too cold for reindeer?

Reindeer come from the Ice Age – they are used to surviving in temperatures as low as -70 degrees Celsius. Evolution has made sure that they pass the test when it comes to survival. Their fur is dense, and each individual hair is so robust that the animal is optimally insulated in these cold and icy conditions.

Why do reindeer feet not freeze?

Hooves are basically toe nails and they do not freeze. They do not require a good blood supply to the hoof itself, but the legs do. However, a hoof provides an excellent insulating layer between the lower leg and contact with frozen ground, snow or ice.

Can reindeer live in America?

This year, in the dead of winter, America's wild reindeer went extinct in the contiguous United States. After years of dwindling, the last remaining herd of caribou known to roam between Canada and the Pacific Northwest states of Idaho and Washington was down to just one known member.

What is a group of reindeer called?

A group of reindeer is called a herd.

What country are reindeer native to?

They are found in the Arctic tundra and adjacent boreal forests of Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska, and Canada.

Why do reindeer move south in the winter?

Reindeer move south in the winter to escape the bitter cold temperature. They move north in the summer to escape biting insects.

Why do reindeer migrate in Norway?

The Sami reindeer spring migration is a unique tradition in which reindeer move from winter pastures to summer pastures. The Sami and the guests joining the migration move on snowmobiles while following the reindeer. You sit on a sled pulled by a snowmobile.

Why do caribou migrate?

They found that, in general, decreasing temperatures and the first snowfall events of the winter were the main signals caribou used to decide when to migrate. One of the most interesting findings was that caribou updated their decision to migrate during the journey based on new conditions.

What are the adaptations of a reindeer?

Cool adaptations Fur covering a reindeer's body helps it stay warm in its very cold habitat. Reindeer even have fur on the bottom of their hooves, which helps them keep from slipping on icy ground. Their big, broad hooves also work well as paddles when the animal swims across rivers or lakes.

What is the gestation period in reindeer?

The gestation period in reindeer is seven and a half months.

What is the lifespan of a reindeer?

The longevity of reindeer is about 15 years in the wild and 20 years in captivity.

Are reindeer and caribou the same animal?

Reindeer and caribou are the same animals. Reindeer in North America are called caribou. They are found in the Arctic tundra and adjacent boreal fo...

Do female reindeer have antlers?

Reindeer are the only deer species in which females have antlers; in all other deer species, only the males have them.

What do reindeer eat in the winter?

In winter reindeer rely on high-carbohydrate lichens called reindeer moss, which they reach by digging craters in the snow. The calf follows its mo...

Where are reindeer native to?

The reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ), also known as caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes both sedentary and migratory populations.

Why are reindeer herds important?

Reindeer herding has been vital for the subsistence of several Eurasian nomadic indigenous people living in the circumpolar Arctic zone as Sámi, Nenets, and Komi. Reindeer are used to provide renewable sources and reliable transportation. In Mongolia, Dukha people are known as the reindeer people. They are credited as one of the world's earliest domesticators. Dukha diet consists mainly of reindeer dairy products.

What is the name of the reindeer?

Carl Linnaeus chose the name Rangifer for the reindeer genus, which Albertus Magnus used in his De animalibus, fol. Liber 22, Cap. 268: "Dicitur Rangyfer quasi ramifer". This word may go back to the Saami word raingo. Linnaeus chose the word tarandus as the specific epithet, making reference to Ulisse Aldrovandi 's Quadrupedum omnium bisulcorum historia fol. 859–863, Cap. 30: De Tarando (1621). However, Aldrovandi and Konrad Gesner thought that rangifer and tarandus were two separate animals. In any case, the tarandos name goes back to Aristotle and Theophrastus .

How big are bull reindeer antlers?

In the largest subspecies, the antlers of large males can range up to 100 cm (39 in) in width and 135 cm (53 in) in beam length. They have the largest antlers relative to body size among living deer species. Antler size measured in number of points reflects the nutritional status of the reindeer and climate variation of its environment. The number of points on male reindeer increases from birth to five years of age and remains relatively constant from then on. "In male caribou, antler mass (but not the number of tines) varies in concert with body mass." While antlers of bull woodland caribou are typically smaller than barren-ground caribou, they can be over one metre (3') across. They are flattened, compact and relatively dense. Geist describes them as frontally emphasised, flat-beamed antlers. Woodland caribou antlers are thicker and broader than those of the barren-ground caribou and their legs and heads are longer. Quebec-Labrador bull caribou antlers can be significantly larger and wider than other woodland caribou. Central barren-ground bull caribou are perhaps the most diverse in configuration and can grow to be very high and wide. Mountain caribou are typically the most massive with the largest circumference measurements.

How many layers of fur does a caribou have?

The coat has two layers of fur: a dense woolly undercoat and longer-haired overcoat consisting of hollow, air-filled hairs. Fur is the primary insulation factor that allows reindeer to regulate their core body temperature in relation to their environment, the thermogradient, even if the temperature rises to 100 °F (38 °C). In 1913 Dugmore noted how the woodland caribou swim so high out of the water, unlike any other mammal, because their hollow, "air-filled, quill-like hair" acts as a supporting "life jacket."

Why are lichens important for reindeer?

The environmental variations play a large part in reindeer nutrition, as winter nutrition is crucial to adult and neonatal survival rates. Lichens are a staple during the winter months as they are a readily available food source, which reduces the reliance on stored body reserves. Lichens are a crucial part of the reindeer diet; however, they are less prevalent in the diet of pregnant reindeer compared to non-pregnant individuals. The amount of lichen in a diet is found more in non-pregnant adult diets than pregnant individuals due to the lack of nutritional value. Although lichens are high in carbohydrates, they are lacking in essential proteins that vascular plants provide. The amount of lichen in a diet decreases in latitude, which results in nutritional stress being higher in areas with low lichen abundance.

Why do reindeer make clicking sounds?

The frequency of the knee-clicks is one of a range of signals that establish relative positions on a dominance scale among reindeer. "Specifically, loud knee-clicking is discovered to be an honest signal of body size, providing an exceptional example of the potential for non-vocal acoustic communication in mammals." The clicking sound made by reindeer as they walk is caused by small tendons slipping over bone protuberances (sesamoid bones) in their feet . The sound is made when a reindeer is walking or running, occurring when the full weight of the foot is on the ground or just after it is relieved of the weight.

Where do reindeer migrate?

The reindeer migration is an ancient tradition in Finnmark. In April, hundreds of thousands of reindeer migrate from the inland areas to the coast of Northern Norway, and over 2,000 Sami reindeer herders work day and night. In Karasjok, you can join their team!

When does the reindeer migration take place?

It takes place sometime at the end of April or beginning of May, but no one can know in advance whether the reindeer will have begun the migration, be half-way through it, or already settled in the summer grazing area. So, Turgleder takes you to the reindeer and herders, wherever they might be.

Why can't one herding family accept visitors?

This means that if one herding family cannot accept visitors because the herd is too scattered and has to be brought together , they can phone another family. Neither the reindeer herders nor Turgleder know in advance when the reindeer migration will begin.

Why do they drive reindeer at night?

They often drive the reindeer at night, because the night frost forms a light crust that is easy to walk on, but then they rest when the afternoon sun makes the snow wet and slushy. In other words, the route is only actually decided on the move. 01. 02. 03.

Do reindeer migrate in the spring?

The route depends on the weather and time of day. The reindeer migration is a process that does not follow the clock. The spring weather and depth of snow decide when you get going and how fast you move. The summer grazing areas of the Karasjok Sami are on Magerøya (the island of the North Cape), and on the mainland next to the island.

Do reindeer graze in the winter?

All through the winter, the reindeer graze high on the plateau, where there is little snowfall and a subarctic steppe climate. With temperatures as low as -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit), the snow is light and fluffy, and there is no ice because the weather is rarely mild.

Do reindeer dig down to lichen?

This means that it is easy for the reindeer to dig down to the reindeer lichen. But in summer, the lichen must get its chance to grow, and by then the lush coastal grasses have started poking out through the top of the metre-high snow. Wild reindeer came to Northern Norway more than ten thousand years ago, and the ‘tame’ reindeer herds came ...

Where do reindeer live?

They inhabit cool climates, and are native to the arctic, sub-arctic, tundra, boreal, and mountain ranges of Northern Europe, Siberia, and in North America, where this species is known as the Caribou.

How Long do Reindeer Live?

With the exception of Rudolph and Santa’s other Reindeer (who are magical creatures and live forever), the maximum lifespan of wild living Reindeer is between 10 and 15 years.

What do Reindeer Eat?

Reindeer have a hard life, and finding enough food to survive is one of the biggest challenges they face.

How many reindeer are there in the world?

The herd of the Siberian tundra, known as the Taimyr Herd of Reindeer is the largest herd of wild reindeer in the world, and its numbers vary from 400,000 all the way up to 1,000,000 Reindeer . In Canada there’s a migratory herd known as the Boreal Woodland Caribou, which varies in size between 28,000 and 385,000.

Why do reindeer have antlers?

This is thought to be because females can use the antlers to find food. In snow the antlers are used to scrape snow away from the ground, and as such they are an important feature for survival.

Why are reindeer ears and tails small?

A Reindeer’s ears and tail are small to prevent excessive loss of heat. The body is solid and muscular but the legs are short, giving Rangifer tarandus a stocky, compact appearance.

Where do Rangifer tarandus migrate?

Many populations of Rangifer tarandus are sedentary and remain in the same place all year round. The most famous migrations occur in Alaska and Canada. Reindeer in northern Europe and Asia are less migratory in behavior.

What are some interesting facts about reindeer?

Amazing Facts About the Reindeer. Also known as Caribou, Reindeer are probably most famous for the role in pulling Santa’s sleigh at Christmas. Like all deer species, Reindeer have impressive ant lers, but they are actually the only deer species in which both males and females have them. Males generally have larger antlers ...

How are Reindeer adapted to the cold?

Reindeer thrive in cold climates, but that’s because they are well adapted to their habitat.

Are Reindeer domesticated?

Reindeer are perhaps most famous for their role in pulling Santa’s sleigh, but in reality, humans have been exploiting Reindeer for thousands of years. They are some of the last animals to be domesticated, and have hunted for meat and fur and used for riding and transport of goods. Nowadays, Reindeer are often used for commercial purposes around Christmas where they can be seen along with Santa and his elves; but, find out more about that here.

What do Reindeers eat?

But, what about in the wild? Reindeer are herbivores, so eat only plants feasting on a mix of grasses, shoots, leaves, fungi and mosses.

How many calves do Reindeers have?

Gestation lasts for around 234 days, at which point the female will give birth to one calf in a relatively isolated and predator-free area.

Where did Santa's reindeer get their names?

Where did Santa’s Reindeer get their names? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen. Santa’s Reindeer were first named in the 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”. The original names were a bit different though //with Donner and Blitzen first known as Dunder and Blixem, but the names evolved over time into ...

Do reindeer live in the dark?

When you live as far north as Reindeer do, you can’t be afraid of the dark. In winter it is nearly always dark, and in summer it is nearly always light. For us, this can be challenging to deal with. But, Reindeer, have come up with an interesting strategy – they don’t live by their internal body clock. While our bodies release hormones on a daily cycle that influences when we wake and sleep, Reindeer don’t. Hormone release simply responds to whether it is light or dark outside.

Where do reindeer live?

Reindeer are native to the Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Some populations of this species are sedentary while others perform long seasonal migrations from birthing grounds to summer and winter feeding grounds.

How many reindeer are there in the world?

Reindeer were some of the last animals that humans domesticated, considered by some to still not be fully tame. There are about 2.5 million domesticated reindeer in nine countries, with about 100,000 people tending to them, being approximately half the world’s total reindeer population.

How do reindeer hooves work?

In the winter, the pads shrink and tighten, exposing the rim of the hoof, which cuts into the ice and crusted snow to keep reindeer from slipping. This also enables them to dig down (an activity known as "cratering") through the snow to their favorite food, a lichen known as reindeer lichen.

What are reindeer's coats?

Reindeer are large deer, with a thick coat that is brown during the summer, and during the winter it is gray. They have a pale colored chest and undersides, with their rump and tail being white. Males and females both have antlers, with those of males being larger and more complex. Males usually shed them after breeding, whereas females don’t do so until spring. They have specialized hooves that will adapt in relation to the season. In summer their footpads turn spongy to give extra traction, while in winter the pads tighten and shrink to expose the edge of the hoof so they can cut into the snow and ice so that they don’t slip. They have nasal turbinate bones which serve to increase the surface area in their nostrils. Cold air can thus be warmed up by their body heat prior to entering their lungs.

How do reindeer find food?

They can find food under snow, presumably by being able to smell it. They use their front hooves to dig craters to reach the food. Dominant reindeer will frequently take over the craters dug by subordinate individuals. Group name. herd, mob, gang.

When do reindeer antlers grow?

Antlers begin to grow on male reindeer in March or April and on female reindeer in May or June. This process is called antlerogenesis. Antlers grow very quickly every year on the males. As the antlers grow, they are covered in thick velvet, filled with blood vessels, and spongy in texture. The velvet that covers growing antlers is highly vascularised skin. When the antler growth is fully grown and hardened, the velvet is shed or rubbed off.

How do reindeer see?

Reindeer can see light with wavelengths as short as 320 nm (i.e. in the ultraviolet range), considerably below the human threshold of 400 nm. It is thought that this ability helps them to survive in the Arctic, because many objects that blend into the landscape in light visible to humans, such as urine and fur, produce sharp contrasts in ultraviolet. A specific layer of tissue in the eye of Arctic reindeer changes in color from gold in summer to blue in winter to improve their vision during times of continuous darkness, and perhaps enable them to better spot predators.

What are some ways to connect reindeer to their migration routes?

Wildlife corridors are another potential solution. These are bridges built over roads and rail lines that allow reindeer and other species to cross. It’s hoped that these could reconnect reindeer to their traditional migration routes, without having to be diverted or forced to navigate traffic.

When did reindeer stop moving?

But in 1751 and 1826, the borders between these states were closed and the movement of reindeer between them stopped. Reindeer and herders were moved from border regions, preventing reindeer from following their traditional migrations and halting trade and exchange that had sustained herders and the settled population for centuries.

What are the groups of reindeer herders called?

For a long time, reindeer herders have organised themselves into groups called siidas. Each siida has an area of land in which their reindeer can roam, and herders make sure the animals stay within their own patch and don’t graze the land of other siidas .

Why do reindeer herders have to buy feed?

In a relatively small amount of time, reindeer have lost access to large grazing areas and many indigenous Sámi reindeer herders are now forced to buy feed to help the animals survive. In the rush to build a green economy that can tackle the warming that threatens the Arctic, industries risk reinforcing processes that harm the people and wildlife living there.

How can reindeer be protected?

In forestry, experts have studied how to schedule tree felling so that reindeer have protected routes where there is less noise and patches of undisturbed vegetation they can eat as they travel.

Why are fences built for reindeer?

On larger roads and motorways, fences are built to avoid these accidents, but they can prevent the reindeer from being able to cross at all. The alternative for herders is to load reindeer into trucks and drive them across these potentially lethal barriers, which is as costly and arduous as it sounds.

How much of Norway's reindeer habitat has been lost?

In one study, researchers found that reindeer in Norway lost 70% of undisturbed habitat during the 20th century. In Finland and Sweden, the figure is thought to be similar. Even developments that might seem environmentally benign, or even beneficial, are now contributing to the problem. The number of wind turbines in Norway has quadrupled over ...

What is Reindeer Size?

The size of a reindeer depends on its species. In general, the sizes of the reindeer are about 160 to 220 centimeters (65 to 87 inches) at the shoulder and 150 to 200 centimeters (59 to 79 inches) long.

What is The Physical Description Of Reindeer?

Reindeer are a species of deer with large, furry antlers. They can grow antlers up to 6 feet in length.

Reindeer Mating Season

The yearly breeding season of the reindeer lasts from November to January. Female reindeer are in season only for a few hours each day, which is during their second change of antlers. This can be observed by observing the animal’s nose, which turns red during estrus.

Reindeer Communication And Perception

Reindeer can communicate with one another through a multitude of different vocalizations and postures. They can also detect human and wolf scents from great distances.

What Does Reindeer Eat?

Reindeer are herbivores that live in the Arctic regions. They mainly feed on grasses, leaves, mosses, lichens, and other vegetation.

Reindeer Conservation Status

The conservation status of reindeer is determined by how many individuals there are as well as the environment they live in. In some areas where reindeers have been hunted to near extinction, they have been listed as endangered. In other areas where the population has been stable over time, it is classified as vulnerable or near threatened.

Where did reindeer originate?

Reindeer were domesticated in northern Europe and Asia several thousand years ago and are the basis of herding cultures in those regions.

How long have reindeer been around?

Caribou and reindeer have been around for over a half-million years, originating in the early Pleistocene. Their ancestors lived at the same time as now-extinct woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.

What are lichens in the tundra?

Lichens are a combination of fungus and algae that grow together. On alpine and arctic tundra ranges, caribou primarily feed on terrestrial lichens, sometimes called reindeer moss, that occur within the low-growing grasses and shrubs that make up the tundra vegetation.

What is the primary forage for caribou?

In southern or boreal forest ranges, arboreal lichens that grow on trees are the predominant caribou forage.

How cold can a caribou live?

Caribou are well adapted to living in cold regions and thrive in areas where winter temperatures can reach 70 or 80 degrees below zero.

How many reindeer were there in Alaska in the 1930s?

Reindeer herding expanded widely across the west and north coasts of Alaska, as well as into northern Canada, such that around 600,000 domestic reindeer occurred throughout Alaska by the 1930s.

What would happen if reindeer had red noses?

If reindeer had red, glowing noses, they’d probably be a lot easier to study in the wild. To learn more about the biology behind these arctic antler-bearers, we only have to turn to our colleagues at the USGS Alaska Science Center, who conduct a wide variety of earth science and ecological science surveys throughout our northernmost state.

Where do reindeer live?

Reindeer live in areas of Arctic tundra (a cold treeless plain, frequently poorly drained) and the northern boreal forests that make up the southern edge of the tundra.

How do reindeer interact with humans?

As a hardy large herbivore they have been herded for food and to provide the muscle for transport by circumpolar peoples of the north. They are still hunted for food and other materials such as hides, antlers and bone to make tools by a number of Inuit peoples. They are herded in particular by the Sami and Nenets, they are not fully domesticated in the way that sheep and cattle are but are semi-wild roaming on pasture in a process of nomadic herding. There was a herd introduced to the Sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia when 10 animals were landed in 1911 to provide food for whalers and sealers, this population had grown to around 6,600 by early 2014 when they were all culled due to their impact on native bird life.

Why are reindeer herds threatened?

Herds are threatened by harvesting by hunters, regional climate trends and by increased development particularly of mining and oil and gas facilities which in their turn bring in more workers who may also hunt recreationally. Reindeer have a relationship with humans going back thousands of years.

What is the adaptation of reindeer?

Reindeer have the unique adaptation amongst mammals of having an enzyme called lichenase which enables them to break down tough lichens to release glucose. Conservation status: Least Concern. Distribution: Circumpolar including many islands, native to the far north.

How big is a reindeer?

Average Length: 160 to 200 cm long (5.3 - 6.6 feet) plus a short tail of 14 - 20 cm (6 - 8 inches), 80 to 150cm (2.6 - 4.9 feet) tall at the shoulder. Females are smaller than males, the extent of the difference varies in the different subspecies, domesticated reindeer have shorter legs and are heavier then wild reindeer/caribou.

What are the predators of reindeer?

Predators: Reindeer are predated upon mainly by wolves which hunt them in packs, particularly in the winter. The calves in the calving season are subject to heavy pred ation, mainly by golden eagles and sea eagles, but also by wolverine and less commonly brown bears and polar bears. Distribution range of reindeer / caribou.

What do reindeer eat?

Feeding & diet: In the summer months reindeer eat sedges, grasses, herbs, ferns and mosses on the tundra. They will also eat shoots and leaves of trees when available being particularly fond of willow and birch. They have been recorded as being opportunistic carnivores eating le mmings, birds eggs and arctic char (fish).

Overview

Relationship with humans

Naming

Taxonomy and evolution

Subspecies

Physical characteristics

Biology and behaviours

Ecology