Although Rudolph and his gang are likely in the North Pole getting ready for the Big Night, did you know Colorado is home to its very own reindeer herd? On a ranch in Loveland, Chris Jessen owns one of an estimated 50 reindeer herds in the US. The Greeley Fence Post published this fascinating profile on Jessen, his reindeer ranch, and how he got into the reindeer biz. Plus, here are some fun reindeer facts to have queued up for your next holiday party.
- Reindeer originally hail from Norway and Mongolia where they were utilized for labor and as a food source for native peoples. They first made their debut in the US during the Alaskan gold rush in the 1890s, when they were imported by the government to be used as a food source for Alaskan natives.
- Reindeer and caribou are the same animal species. (There are 14 distinct subspecies.)
- In the summer, reindeer have short, brown coats. In the winter, their fur grows long and turns white-gray. This is thought to help with insulation and camouflage from predators.
- Newborn reindeers tend to weigh in at 10-25 pounds; full-grown females average 200-300 pounds; adult males somewhere between 300-600 pounds.
- Jessen says one reindeer can cost anywhere between $8,000 and $50,000. He also insists on purchasers buying a minimum of two, because reindeer are social creatures and do not typically thrive well on their own.
- Both male and female reindeer grow and shed antlers.
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