Reindeer Games

Engaging with animals up close is a big part of the fun at Shortsville Reindeer Farm in Shortsville, New York.

Photograph Courtesy of Shortsville Reindeer Farm, www.shortsvillereindeer.com.

Pauline Broe of Vermont Reindeer Farm in Orleans, Vermont, feeds some of the farm's inhabitants. In the wild, reindeer would graze on grass in the summer and eat lichen and other plants that live under the snow in the winter. The diet of domesticated reindeer is a bit different -- they typically eat alfalfa hay, commercial feeds and grain mixtures instead.

Photograph Courtesy of Vermont Reindeer Farm, www.vtreindeerfarm.com.

Santa welcomes visitors to Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer, Alaska. During the winter season, the farm offers guided tours, information sessions and opportunities to feed and interact with friendly reindeer and other animals.

Photograph Courtesy of Williams Reindeer Farm, www.reindeerfarm.com.

"Taking care of reindeer is our passion, along with taking part in important conservation work," says Erika Bowie of Leavenworth Reindeer Farm in Leavenworth, Washington. Scientifically speaking, reindeer and caribou are the same species, Rangifer tarandus. Wild caribou today are under threat from climate change, industrial development, human disturbance, and other factors. Leavenworth Reindeer Farm has partnered with the Caribou Conservation Alliance to raise awareness and funding for this important cause.

Photograph Courtesy of Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, www.leavenworthreindeer.com.

When you think of reindeer, do you picture antlered herds grazing beneath the Northern Lights? Or do you envision the mythical flying creatures who guide Santa's sleigh around the world on Christmas Eve? Well, you don't have to venture to Lapland or the North Pole to mingle with these beloved animals. Your family can experience them up close at specialized farms across the United States. These merry venues welcome visitors, conduct educational tours, allow petting and handfeeding, and encourage photo opportunities, among other activities.

Although reindeer have roamed the Arctic for thousands of years, it wasn't until the late 19th century that Alaskan farmers began importing and raising them for meat, hides, milk, cheese and antlers. Today, about 100,000 reindeer live on hundreds of farms across America in cold climates and as far south as Texas. These domesticated reindeer live 12 to 14 years, weigh 200 to 400 pounds, eat commercial feed, and reside in enclosures. Interestingly, the friendly nature of reindeer makes them ideally suited for agritourism. Reindeer farms are popular destinations between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, when lights, trees, music, food and crafts work together to make interactions with reindeer especially enchanting.

In fact, it's nearly impossible to describe reindeer farms without using the adjective magical. "Reindeer are so affectionate, fun, curious and magical," says Lauren Waite, a third-generation reindeer farmer at Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer, Alaska. "The look of pure joy when someone meets a reindeer for the first time is why we do what we do. Some people think reindeer are as real as unicorns. So, to meet a reindeer in person and see how sweet they are is the best feeling in the world."

Reindeer farms' appeal continues to gain momentum. Tracy and Scott Snowman own Snowman's Reindeer Farm in Canton, Illinois. They have been reindeer farming since 2015 and will soon pass the farm to a new husband-and-wife team, Dawn and Jason Parsons. When they started, Tracy and Scott planned to travel to events with their reindeer, but they soon decided to welcome guests to their farm instead. The couple used their skills as artists and educators to create an inviting environment, which now includes a visitor center, gift shop and snack bar in addition to the reindeer barns and pastures. "We were shocked to find that people wanted to come to our farm to see them, so we created a place that families could enjoy as part of their holiday traditions," Tracy says. "The biggest surprise for us is how quickly our visitors fall in love with reindeer. We learned firsthand that they really are magical and that they work their magic on people of all ages and walks of life."

Cuteness aside, reindeer can help us about the environment. For more than 30 years, Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farm has been family owned and operated in Clare, Michigan. Owner Danny Aldrich says, "Reindeer farms provide a hands-on experience for families to learn about the science and history of reindeer, both in nature and in Christmas lore. Part of our mission is to educate others on the important role reindeer play in a healthy ecosystem and how best we can protect future generations to continue thriving."

If you are looking for a new holiday tradition that adds delight to the season, consider a visit to a reindeer farm. As Pauline Broe, who runs Vermont Reindeer Farm in Orleans, Vermont, says, "Christmas is magic and real live reindeer help with that magic."