What are you looking at? Is that a picture of a reindeer, or is
it a caribou?
Both are large members of the deer family and live in tundra and boreal
forest regions. They both share the latin name Rangifer Tarandus
... hmmn, that means that they are considered to be the same species.
That was a trick question! In general, we tend to call the wild herds
caribou, while calling the domestic, working animals reindeer.
Chistmas is coming, and homes and yards are adorned with reindeer galore!
What do we really know about these large mammals though? Why does
Santa use reindeer to pull his sleigh? Well ...
Reindeer have broad, concave hooves that spread, which makes it easy for
them to walk on soft ground or dig in snow. This is very handy, because
they may need to dig in order to get to their food. In the Spring,
they eat grasses, flowering plants, horsetails and the leaves of willows.
But what grows in the Winter? Reindeer Moss! Reindeer moss,
a lichen, is the primary Winter food for Reindeer (A lichen is composed
of two seperate organisms - an algae and a fungus. The algae has
chlorophyll and can manufacture food, while the fungus supports the algae
and prevents it from drying out). So how does a big animal like a
reindeer survive on lichen for the Winter? Reindeer do not hibernate,
but they do lower their metabolic rate. That means that their body
organs work at a slower rate ... which means that their body needs
less energy ... which also means that they need less food.
So we know that they do well in the cold, travel well in the snow, and
don't need much to eat in the Winter. Add that they are strong and
that they have showy antlers (both males and females grow impressive antlers),
and it is no wonder why Santa turned to them for help!
Merry Christmas from everyone here at Wildlife Canopy!
