A Quest to Find Rudolph 🦌

On Tuesday, we set out for the remote west side of the island, where we’d heard reindeer are often spotted in the winter.

Mission accomplished!

We saw several herds of wild reindeer grazing in fields and even right alongside the road at times. They were much smaller than I expected, which gave me a new appreciation for the line from ’Twas the Night Before Christmas that mentions “eight tiny reindeer.”

Here are some fun facts about reindeer…

🦌 Female reindeer also have antlers - it's not just the males.

🦌 Reindeer can see ultraviolet light. Unlike humans, reindeer can see UV light with the naked eye - an adaptation which is vital for their survival over the dark winter months.

🦌 Reindeer may not be able to fly, but they can swim. The air trapped in their coat fibres, not only helps to keep reindeer warm, but also makes them buoyant.

🦌 Their eyes change color!
Reindeer eyes change color with the seasons. In the summer, their eyes are gold. However, in winter, their eye colour changes to a deep blue, which helps the reindeers see better in the low winter light.Read more