On Dasher, On Blitzen…

Reindeer – a domesticated variety of caribou – have been kept in herds for nearly 2,000 years by native peoples of the Arctic regions of Europe and Asia. They depend on the reindeer for food (sorry, Rudolph), clothing, shelter, and transportation (usually pulling, yes… sleighs).

Both caribou and reindeer thrive in extremely cold temperatures. They have a unique type of fur that traps air, providing insulation. Their diet, too, is adapted to their harsh environment. They eat mainly lichen and tough grasses, the only food available in the Arctic tundra for much of the year.

(Source: Arctic Studies Center and the National Park Service)

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