Image of a reindeer in a snowy landscape
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Reindeer Are Real!

Fascinating facts about these real-life winter animals

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Reindeer are also called caribou. They travel in groups called herds. The largest herd ever seen had 1 million reindeer


A thick coat of fur keeps me warm in cold temperatures. It changes color with the seasons!

Hairy hooves help me walk on ice and dig through snow.

My special nose warms the cold air as I breathe it in.

My long, sharp antlers scrape away ice and snow. They fall off and grow larger each year. The largest antler ever recorded was 4 feet long!

A reindeer can eat up to 12 pounds of plants a day!

 Jim McMahon/Mapman ®

Where They Live

Reindeer live in the cold, northern areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. The Sami people in Norway use the animals to pull sleds through the snow.

Biggest and Smallest 

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The world’s biggest reindeer was about 7 feet tall! It lived 10,000 years ago, during the last ice age.

Today the Svalbard reindeer are the smallest. They’re only about 2.5 feet tall!

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Can't Miss Teaching Extras

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Do you want to stay in the Arctic? Read “Frozen Dreams,” a remarkable story about the American explorer who discovered the North Pole. There are fascinating video elements too including a video read-aloud and a presentation about forgotten heroes by Lauren Tarshis. 

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