Reindeer Plush

Like with bat plush toys and Halloween, reindeer plush aren't strictly reserved for

making an appearance at Christmas; reindeer plush deserve to be around at all times of the year just like any other stuffed animal.

Reindeer, which are sometimes called caribou, are members of the deer family (which also includes moose and elk). They can be found living in Arctic tundra's, forests and mountains of Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, Russia, and Northern China. Wild caribou were tamed in Eurasia in the southern Altai mountain region some 5,000 years ago according to some anthropological studies. Any domesticated reindeer today, are ancestors from that stock as when attempting to domesticate wild caribou now, it has failed. Modern reindeer are used to pull sleds and some are even saddled and ridden. Some are also used for commercial sales of meat and hides.

Reindeer stand about four feet tall and six feet wide and both males (called bulls) and females (called cows) have antlers, which is unlike most other deer species. Like other deer species, however, their antlers shed every year and then regrow. Adults can weigh up to 300 pounds. They have very sharp, broad hooves (which function much like snowshoes) which makes them strong runners and gives them the ability to travel long distances across snow and ice. They also have thick brown fur which not only insulates them from the cold, but also helps them float in water making them very good swimmers. They can live to about ten years of age in the wild.

Despite being referred to with different names in North America, both domestic reindeer and caribou are the same species no matter where they are in the world. However, different varieties of reindeer have been developed in different parts of the world based on conditions and human needs, which includes transportation. For example, Chukchis have a breed that seems to have been domesticated much longer than other species and while they are great for meat production, pulling sleds is not their strong suit. Wild reindeer are known for their long migrations in which they travel further north during the summer months so they can graze on fresh grass, moss, and lichen. In the winter months, they return to warmer climates in the south where they can seek shelter.

Reindeer plush toys shouldn't be used in any way to pull sleds, unless of course, it's reserved for doing so in your imagination. Like other preferred stuffed animals, reindeer plush are quite content to live a lie of leisure, enjoying cuddles and hugs every now and again and perhaps a good secret or two when the mood strikes you to confide in them.

reindeer plush

reindeer stuffed animals

Copyright Shelley Vassall, 2010. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

Reindeer Plush

By: Shelley Vassall

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