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Reindeer in a nutshell

Reindeer are semi-domesticated herd animals that spend most of their lives in the forests and fells of the Arctic in search of food. They eat over 400 different plants, their favorites being mushroom and lichen. Reindeer have an excellent sense of smell, allowing them to sniff out lichen even under thick layers of snow. Their unique four-toed hooves are specifically adapted to walking in thick snow and digging out food. When they walk, pay attention to the soft click from their joints, a sound that helps keep the herd together in the forest.

Working reindeer and reindeer training

Training reindeer takes patience and time. Training starts from a young age, which helps calves become comfortable with human interaction. Even with training, reindeer remain semi-domesticated animals, as they continue to spend their summers with the main herd in the forest. Around the age of 4 or 5, reindeer are ready to welcome visitors with reindeer sleigh rides, inviting you to experience the beauty of Finnish nature.

Reindeer wellbeing

At Kuoksa Reindeer Stories, our reindeer are cherished members of our family and are treated with the utmost care and respect. We prioritize their well-being by providing them with a balanced diet, regular treats, and a reindeer-specific work shift calendar to ensure they get the rest they need. During their downtime, our reindeer enjoy spacious pens that allow them to roam freely and engage in natural behaviors. We live by a Finnish saying; “A happy reindeer equals a happy herder”.

History of Reindeer in Finland

Reindeer husbandry is the oldest way of life still practiced in Finland today.

Reindeer were domesticated from the wild mountain deer native to Scandinavia. They were initially used to lure deer for hunting by the indigenous forest Sámi people from as early as the Middle Ages.

The only recognized indigenous people of Europe, the Sámi have long cared for the nature areas of Finnish Lapland and herded reindeer in the Arctic areas of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. In Sweden and Norway, reindeer herding is an exclusive right for the Sámi, but in Finland, it is also practiced by Finnish settlers.

Reindeer have been used in transportation for centuries. Reindeer move easily through the forest, and alongside skiing, moving around with a reindeer and sleigh was common. For example, reindeer sleigh rides were utilized to go to town to visit the shop or attend school.

Finland has a Reindeer Husbandry Act that allows and protects reindeer herding in Northern parts of Finland. In 1898, the Finnish government ordered reindeer herders to establish Reindeer Herding Cooperative with geographical boundaries. Each herder belongs to one and all reindeer in Finland have an owner.

The Reindeer year – Following Nature’s Seasons

Reindeer husbandry is built around northern nature. The reindeer year starts on June 1st, with the birth of baby calves. In the summer, new calves are ear-marked with the reindeer herders’ individual mark. The herds spend their summer in the forest, mostly stocking up on reserves in preparation for the long winter.

Autumn is the mating season, when male reindeer compete for female attention. Male antlers are now at their biggest and strongest. After the mating season ends, the males drop their antlers and start growing new ones. Autumn is also the time when the reindeer are round-up and herders choose which animals are used for domestic purposes. 

For winter, reindeer grow thick fur to stay warm in extreme cold, even in -50 degrees Celsius (-58F). Female reindeer are usually pregnant, while also caring for their calves. Finding food is trickier, and females hold on to their antlers during the winter time, to help protect their calves as well as finding food under a thick layer of snow. 

Spring is when the new calves are born. Reindeer milk is rich in nutrients and is the main nutrition for the younglings. They start growing their antlers right away. The mothers drop their antlers a few weeks after the calves are born.