From Ice Age to Modern Day: How Reindeer Thrive in Extreme Cold

Reindeer, native to colder countries like Canada and Norway, are known for their migrations and resilience to the elements, which can withstand freezing temperatures. In this post, we’ll discuss this topic as we delve into reindeer migration patterns.

What’s the Coldest Temperature Reindeer Can Handle?

Reindeer evolved during the last ice age to withstand temperatures as low as minus 94°F (minus 70° C. Yes, you read that right. This is an amazing feat, accomplished only by a select group of specialized animals. Reindeer have developed systems that allow them to be highly energy efficient, and thus they can survive temperatures that most other living organisms of their size simply can’t.

Reindeer have incredibly dense fur that protects them from snow and ice that the wind might pick up. Their hooves have adapted to change with the seasons, becoming stiffer in the winter to better walk on ice. However, they are also extremely sensitive to ice surfaces, so reindeer have an innate sense of whether they can walk on a sheet of ice or not. 

Reindeer have a highly evolved air-heating mechanism in their nose. A reindeer’s nose is full of blood vessels that warm cold air as it is inhaled, which is why reindeer noses often exhibit a distinct red hue in cold weather. In a fraction of a second, the cold air a reindeer breathes is heated up to its body’s temperature. Reindeer’s tendons have evolved to click as they walk, which allows them to keep track of each other’s positions as they move through snowstorms or dense forests in the dark.

Where Do Reindeer Live?

Reindeer are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They inhabit the Arctic, subarctic, tundra, and boreal forests in countries like Canada, Russia, and Norway. These are places where temperatures routinely drop as low as minus 40°F (minus 40° C). Reindeer have evolved to survive and thrive in any part of the northernmost parts of the world. However, even for them, icy winters can prove unsavory which is why many reindeer species migrate.

Why Do Reindeer Migrate?

Reindeer migration is nothing new or especially special. Certain subspecies of caribou — the more scientific name of North American reindeer — in Canada trek over 3.000 miles annually from north to south. These hardy animals have some of the longest migration patterns in the animal kingdom. Reindeer typically migrate to forage for food.

Reindeer feed on grass, moss, lichen, and other vegetation. Thus, when seasons change and temperatures drop, reindeer must travel in search of their sustenance. Migration, which can last an entire season, will cover between 600 and 3000 miles. Reindeer prefer to spend the winters among thick boreal forests. Herds of up to 500,000 reindeer led by a female can travel in unison every year through similar spots. However, predicting when they’ll begin their migration is practically impossible. Manmade factors like roads, and global warming have disrupted the reindeer’s natural migration patterns, making it difficult to know when they’ll begin to move.