Monday Portrait: Reindeer

We haven’t been to Lapland for the weekend. Just a few miles up the road from here live a herd of reindeer. This is their busy season, and instead of grazing peacefully, their diet of grasses augmented by occasional goody-bags of lichen imported at enormous expense, they are toted hither and yon for the delectation of local children – and their parents. We met them at a local farm yesterday. These caribou are surprisingly small and delicate looking, with antlers far less hefty than those of their red deer cousins.

Their feet are soft and spreading, giving them their version of a snow shoe. They make a clicking sound as they walk, enabling them to keep track of each other as they wander in search of food. We didn’t hear them, but apparently they utter a low barking sound from time to time.

Here are a few extra shots.

Goodbye!

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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

59 thoughts on “Monday Portrait: Reindeer”

      2. This was my reply to Susan of ‘A Life in Books’ on that score ‘I wouldn’t say cuddly, they’re a bit too sophisticated and lean for that. Delightful, certainly.’

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    1. I think it’s the dreaded H&S. They have to be protected from any possible cross-contamination with sheep, whose diseases are very bad news for them.

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  5. One of my earliest memories is my dad taking me to see a reindeer and sleigh outside an inn (presumably with santa, though I don’t remember him). Now I wonder if it was an actual reindeer. Lovely pics.

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    1. Did you know that reindeers are the only deer variety with females carrying antlers? And to top it all: male reindeer do not have antlers in winter (they are shed in autumn), whereas female reindeer shed theirs only in spring. Meaning: Santa’s sleigh is pulled by women while the men laze about around a bale of hay!

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    1. They will be able to laze about at will. We do seasonal work round here. There are two local donkeys on call at the nearby church where they have bit parts in the Nativity Play and on Palm Sunday 😉

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  11. There’s something rather special about them, isn’t there? Even without Santa! Or especially without Santa- whichever you prefer. There used to be a farm quite near us in the north east that had reindeer the youngsters could feed at Christmas. I never thought about what they ate the rest of the year.

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      1. And no shortage of Santas! We had a fun Sunday, with Santa motorcyclists revving about the place, and a choir led by Santa while free bolo rei was distributed (they have it in Spain, too?)

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      2. They do, but that’s for El Día de los Reyes Magos at Epiphany. 6th January and is when you need to buy (or make!) and eat your Pastel de Reyes. Happy munching!

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