8 curious facts about cute and lovely reindeer

This is one of the main peculiarities that differs reindeer from other species. Every year a buck loses his racks in December, while does lose it in June. Thus it's more likely that Santa's sleigh are moved by does as they still have their racks.

These graceful animals live in Greenland, North America, Scandinavia and Siberia.

Reindeer can smell reindeer lichen at the depth of 20 inches. However, their vision is very weak. Thus, they navigate using their sense of smell. Reindeer are said to smell strong odor that is up to 18 miles away.

In summer, eyes of these mammals influenced by sunlight are golden; during the cold season or bad weather their eye color is blue.

Their ration includes grass, leaves, bushes, mushrooms and bird eggs. In winter reindeer eat moss and lichen. The construction of the hoofs allows them to dig the snow to a depth of 16 inches.

In the second half of June a doe gives birth to one baby deer. A reindeer fawn can walk and run soon after its birth. Mother feeds it until December then the child starts getting food itself.

These mammals provide the people with food, hide for clothes. People also use reindeer as a transport. In harsh Northern conditions, you are accepted as a rich person not for a lot of money but for the big quantity of reindeer.

It's believed Santa's sleigh is led by nine reindeer. Their names are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. Originally, there were only eight reindeer due to the poem "The Night Before Christmas" ("A Visit from St. Nicholas") written in 1823. Later, Rudolph joined the team as Christmas song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" gained its popularity. The last reindeer was accepted as the main one because of his glowing red nose.