Reindeer vs. Caribou: What's the Difference?
Reindeer
As we approach the Christmas season, certain images automatically pop into our minds from our favorite Christmas classics. Unless you're a Grinch, you will, of course, have visions of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer—along with the whole team of reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh.
However, caribou aren't specifically referred to in any of the traditional stories. This can leave some people scratching their heads, wondering if reindeer and caribou are exactly the same or not. Is there a difference between reindeer vs. caribou?
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What Are Caribou?
Caribou are found in North America and are native to Alaska. They are wild animals that travel in herds throughout Alaska and Canada. To find enough food, they have to keep moving. Large herds will migrate up to 400 miles between the summer and winter months.
Caribou have large antlers as well as large concave hoofs. Their wide feet act as paddles when they swim.
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What Are Reindeer?
Reindeer are the same thing as caribou except that they are native to northern Europe and Asia. Caribou are found in the wild, whereas reindeer are typically domesticated (caribou in Alaska that have been domesticated are also referred to as reindeer). Because of that, they are more tame and can be used for pulling sleds. Some reindeer are even trained to race!
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Reindeer vs. Caribou: What's the Difference?
Both caribou and reindeer have the same scientific name, Rangifer tarandus, and are of the same species.
The key thing that differentiates reindeer from caribou is the fact that a reindeer is domesticated and a caribou is wild. From a distance, you probably wouldn't be able to tell a reindeer or a caribou apart. However, reindeer tend to have shorter legs and wider feet because of being domesticated. The fact that caribou migrate long distances means they tend to have longer legs.
Depending on the region in which caribou or reindeer live, their physical characteristics will vary slightly. According to the National Park Service, caribou are light brown with white fur around their neck and underbelly. On the other hand, reindeer can be found in a variety of colors from tawny, beige, white, brown and dark brown. Some will even have spots of all of the colors. The reason for the many variations of colors is due to selective breeding as well as the food they eat and the environment they live in.
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Why Are Reindeer in Christmas Stories?
Since the legend of Saint Nicholas originated in Europe, it makes sense that reindeer—which are also native to that area—would be used to pull Santa's sleigh. It was totally normal to see reindeer pulling sleds in Arctic Europe, so it wasn't a stretch that they would also pull a sleigh!
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