You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall the most famous reindeer (facts) of all? Secure your place on Santa’s Nice List by learning about his amazing reindeer!
#1: Male reindeer can weigh up to 550 pounds. That’s over 3 times the weight of an average person!
#2: Unlike any other deer species, both male and female reindeer can grow antlers.
#3: Male reindeer’s antlers can have up to 44 tines (points).
#4: Reindeer shed their antlers each year, then grow a new, larger set. The older the reindeer, the bigger the antlers!
#5: Reindeer have an excellent sense of smell and mainly travel into the wind to pick up scents.
#6: Reindeer noses are completely covered in hair and have 25% more blood vessels than humans’ noses. This helps them circulate more warm blood to heat up the air they breathe.
#7: Winter comes, reindeer’s footpads shrink and tighten so their hooves can cut into the ice!
#8: Reindeer are the only mammals who can change the color of their irises! Their eyes are golden in summer, but turn blue in winter to help them see in lower light conditions.
#9: Reindeer are the only mammals that can see UV light, which helps them find food like lichen and moss.
#10: Reindeer can swim up to 6 miles per hour between islands over a mile and a half apart.
#11: Within 90 minutes of being born, reindeer calves can run as fast as an Olympic sprinter!
Pulling Santa’s sleigh is no easy feat, but these incredible facts prove that reindeer have what it takes. Reindeer are magical in more ways than one! 👓