Reindeeror Caribou

What is a reindeer?

• A reindeer (or caribou) is part of the deer family.

• They are strong runners and good swimmers.

• Caribou can run at up to 50 miles per hour.

Reindeer or caribou?

• Caribou and reindeer are not the same animal they are cousins.

• They are not the same because reindeer are smaller.

What do they look like?

• Reindeer have white tails and necks. Their coats are brown and white.

• The fur of the reindeer turns a light colour in the winter and a darker colour in the summer.

How tall are reindeers?

• Reindeer are about 1m 20cm tall. That is about as tall as a Year 3 student.

Caribou - Hooves

• Caribou have large hooves which help them walk on the wet summer ground and the soft winter snow, without sinking in.

• They have 4 toes on each foot.

Caribou - Antlers

• Unlike other members of the deer family both boy and girl reindeers grow antlers.

What do they eat?

• Reindeers are herbivores. This means they eat plants.

• They eat a moss called lichen. It grows on the ground and is good for them to eat.

• In the winter the reindeer paw through the snow to find lichen to eat

Where do they live?• Reindeer can be found in Arctic tundra, forests, and

mountains in Russia, Northern China, Canada, Alaska, and Scandinavia

• It is very cold where they live.

How many reindeer are there?

• Alaska has twice as many Caribou as people. There are 600,000 people but over 1,000,000 caribou.

Pulling a

sleigh

• A full grown reindeer can run between 12 and 15 miles an hour pulling a loaded sleigh. They can do this for many hours.

• Reindeer can carry up to 300 pounds. This is the same as they weigh.

Why keep reindeers?

• Reindeer owners cut a notch in the ears to tell who the reindeer belongs to.

• The people that live with reindeers drink their milk and eat reindeer meat.

• The people use the skins for clothing and to make tents.

Famous Reindeers

An Extract from “T’was a Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clark Moore first published in 1823.

Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!

On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

• We first hear about Rudolph the red nosed reindeer in 1939.

• A man called Robert May first wrote about Rudolph and he composed the famous song too.

The end