It's a trick question, really. Or maybe it's not. I'm sorta confused by trick questions.
(P.S. The picture below was taken shortly before my tiny tiny little nephew was somewhat kicked in the head by that harmless looking reindeer. Don't worry, he's fine.)
According to the woman who worked at the Reindeer Farm in Palmer, Alaska the difference between a reindeer and a caribou is ... a reindeer can fly.
No, really.
A reindeer is simply the domesticated version of a caribou. Since they are domesticated and nice, docile creatures (except for the one that kicked my nephew), they are flown around the world for various reindeer purposes. Usually involving posing as Santa's animal sidekicks come Christmastime. They grow antlers, which are filled with many many blood-vessels and help regulate their body temperature. They shed their antlers every year. Female reindeer, as well as male reindeer, grow antlers. Also they can walk on top of snow. And are unsinkable. See, I learned a lot at the reindeer farm.
Also, that they can get a condition called "antler warts", which are warts...on the antlers. They're disgusting-looking. Apparently you can't really do anything about them except hope that they don't come back after the reindeer sheds his antlers.
This little baby reindeer was orphaned and so the people at the reindeer farm are bottle-feeding her. She was especially friendly.
Also, they let all the kids bottlefeed her. She gulped down the entire bottle in about 2 seconds.
Another awesome thing about the Palmer Reindeer Farm? As well as reindeer, you can also feed elk.
And moose. How very Alaska.
1 comment:
Why didn't you bring back a reindeer? :( They are so cute! Except the antler wart thing. Creepy.
Post a Comment