What is a Reindeer and where do they live?

The reindeer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the moose family. They are hoofed, long-legged animals with antlers and a thick-heat insulating fur which changes every year. Adult reindeers can weigh around 90-180 kg (males) and 60-100 kg (females), and can live for as much as 13-18 years.

Reindeer were domesticated long ago from the wild Scandinavian fell deer. Their habitat and herding area covers all the Lapland area in the north of Finland, Sweden and Norway.

The reindeer calving season and herding year starts in late spring, between May and June: calves and mothers are gathered in corrals for numbering and marking, and then are released again to the wild. In the summer and early autumn, the reindeer grow, gain strengh and forage for reserve nutrition ready for the long winter ahead. Their menu comprises grass, hay, liquen, and mushrooms.

Autum is the rutting season for reindeer, after which they start gradually moving to the winter grazing grounds and preparing for the long winter ahead. During the snowy months, reindeer eat lichen from under the snow and beard moss off the trees. By the end of the winter, a reindeer will have lost a 20% of its autumn weight.


Reindeer husbandry and Sámi culture

Reindeer were domesticated long ago from the wild Scandinavian fell deer. In the beginning, they were used as beasts of burden, they gave meat and milk, and the materials for clothing and tools. Later, during the Middle Ages, there was a gradual change from small to large-scale reindeer herding. Since then, for the people of Lapland the reindeer has never been simply an animal but rather a way of life.

For many centuries, the economy of the Sámi was based entirely on reindeer husbandry. The reindeer provided the family with meat throughout the entire year. This was particularly important during the winter months, when food supplies from nature were scarce. Reindeer meat could be preserved either in frozen pieces or dried, but meat production was not the only use given to the reindeer. Actually, not a single part of the reindeer was left unused. The thick, warm fur was used to make clothing, bags and leather, and the bones were used to make tools. Reindeer provided also a mean of transport during the winter months by pulling the sleigh over the icy and snowy land.


Reindeer husbandry today

In the old days, the Sámi were a nomadic people who followed their reindeer as they moved around their grazing grounds in Lapland. Today, many reindeer herders live still a semi-nomadic way of life, supervising or providing supplementary feeding for their herds during winter. Yet, the working conditions of these modern herders are much different from the ones of their ancestors. Technology is today a normal part of the reindeer herder in Scandinavia, who follows comfortably his herd riding a powerful snowmobile and is able to watch the news or surf the internet through his mobile phone when the day is over and he is back in his tent in the middle of nowhere.

Reindeer husbandry can also be studied at vocational or polytechnic level in several cities and towns in Lapland. Vocational level training focuses on practical experience, and students qualify as reindeer herders. At the polytechnic, students can specialise in reindeer husbandry as part of their studies for a degree in agriculture.


From reindeer crafts to reindeer tourism

Apart from meat production, the reindeer is a very popular handicraft material. Reindeer handicrafts are usually made by hand using traditional methods. Reindeer skins are mainly used for making different useful items and clothes such as the "peski", a Lapland-style fur coat. Reindeer leather is used for waterproof "sisna" suits with trousers and shoes served as summer wear, as well as for small items such as bags or pouches. Reindeer antlers are typically used to make traditional Lapland spoons and knife sheathes. Traditional antler work is beautifully decorated and can also be seen on small antler trinket-boxes, belt buckles, needle cases or scarf holders. Reindeer leg bones have a beautiful pale colour, are smoother than antler, and are used to make small tools and souvenirs such as key rings or trolls.

The reindeer has always been a source of attraction in tourism in Lapland. A visit to a reindeer farm gives visitors the chance to learn at first hand something about the culture of this northern natural livelihood and to see what everyday life is like for the men and women who practice reindeer husbandry. Visitors to a reindeer farm see cute little calves, take part in feeding the reindeer, or learn how to throw a lasso. Nature is an essential part of the culture of the people of Lapland, and many farms also organise guided reindeer treks lasting several hours or tailor-made programme services which can include berry picking, fishing, and hunting.

And there are reindeer races too! The season starts after mid-February and ends around the middle of April. The highlight of the racing season happens in the Inari Championship, in Finnish Lapland. Reindeer racing is a sport with a long tradition, and national championships have been organised since the 1950's.