| One foggy Christmas Eve, Santa Claus made | | | | young through a nine-month gestation period, |
| Rudolph the most popular reindeer of | | | | a reindeer pregnancy lasts for approximately |
| all-time. Once chastised for his red nose, | | | | seven months. Most often, reindeer calves are |
| Rudolph's name went down in history when his | | | | born in the months of April and May.During |
| guiding light saved Christmas for kids the | | | | the mating season, into which young caribou |
| world over.Folklore aside, and much to the | | | | enter at the ripe age of 18 months (they |
| delight of kids in every age group, it's | | | | continue to mate until about 10 years of |
| indisputable fact that reindeer really do | | | | age), the male reindeer - known as bulls - |
| exist. They may not fly (except for special | | | | work vigorously. They eat very little and |
| ones like Dancer and Prancer), but they roam | | | | often lose 20 percent of their body fat.When |
| North American landscapes and are commonly | | | | a female reindeer - sometimes called a cow |
| known by other names, such as | | | | (confusing, isn't it?) - is about to give |
| Caribou.Reindeer are mammals that typically | | | | birth, she becomes withdrawn and separates |
| live about 15 years. Most often they are gray | | | | herself from the pack. She'll hide from her |
| in color with splashes of brown, though on | | | | herd in a protected place, away from the |
| occasion a white caribou is encountered. | | | | elements. Luckily for her, the birth will |
| Their coats - or pelts - are thick to help | | | | only last about 30 minutes once the actually |
| them withstand harsh winters. Since they're | | | | birthing process begins (usually 24 hours or |
| typically found in the northern U.S. and | | | | so after she goes into hiding).Reindeer have |
| Canada, these pelts are essential to their | | | | velvet-covered antlers and the males grow a |
| survival.Some of the most noteworthy reindeer | | | | mane. Like deer or elk, they are wild animals |
| in the world are found in British Columbia, | | | | and therefore do not make good pets, though |
| Canada, where reindeer farms are prevalent. | | | | some people have taken ill-advised steps to |
| On these farms, the caribou are raised for | | | | attempt making them into pets over the |
| slaughter. After processing, caribou meet - | | | | years.The next time your child or grandchild |
| called venison - is taken to restaurants and | | | | asks you about Rudolph, you can tell them |
| retail outlets to be sold for consumption. | | | | with confidence that reindeer do exist. You |
| While caribou are not a particularly popular | | | | can even offer to drive them past a range |
| dish, demand for the food does appear to be | | | | where farmed reindeer forage. These reindeer |
| growing as consumers everywhere continue the | | | | may not look like the friendly, smiling |
| trend of testing their palates with new | | | | cartoon Rudolph, but their physical presence |
| flavors and food combinations.The reindeer's | | | | will assure children that reindeer are in |
| breeding season is particularly interesting. | | | | fact real!Brought to you by Imaginary |
| Known as "the rut," the breeding season lasts | | | | Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable |
| for about a month. Typically, the rut occurs | | | | family oriented content. For safe, |
| in the latter half of September and early | | | | family-friendly games and activities visit |
| part of October. While humans carry their | | | | the official Santa Claus Home Page. |