Hey there! I’m here to share a cool story about reindeer and why we don’t usually find them on our dinner plates in North America. You might know reindeer as the magical animals that help Santa deliver presents, but there’s more to their story!
Back in the late 1800s, the United States bought Alaska from Russia. Some American business people thought it would be a great idea to start a reindeer herding industry there, just like in Russia. They began bringing domesticated reindeer to Alaska, hoping to raise them for meat. But reindeer are tricky creatures. Many of them wandered off into the vast Alaskan wilderness, where they either got lost or mixed with wild reindeer.
In Europe and Russia, people had been herding reindeer for thousands of years, so they knew how to handle these animals better. In North America, however, reindeer herding faced tough competition from cattle. Americans loved beef and bought it much more than reindeer meat. The cattle industry even made laws to stop the sale of reindeer meat!
Things got even harder for reindeer herders during the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs and money. With less money to spend, people weren’t interested in trying new foods like reindeer meat. Many herders couldn’t afford to keep their reindeer, so they let them go free. Within 20 years, most of these reindeer didn’t survive due to overgrazing, predators, and the harsh wild environment.
Today, there’s still a small reindeer herding industry in northwest Alaska, but most of the meat is eaten locally. New problems, like climate change, are making it even harder to manage reindeer. Warmer temperatures can cause ice to cover their food, making it difficult for them to eat.
So, for most of us, reindeer will remain the magical creatures pulling Santa’s sleigh. Rudolph, with his shiny red nose, won’t be on our plates anytime soon!
If you’re curious to learn more about reindeer, there’s a fun book called “The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey” by Roger Highfield. It even suggests that Rudolph might actually be female! You can find this book and many others on Audible, where you can get a free trial to listen to audiobooks.
Also, if you want to dive deeper into reindeer biology or the history of reindeer herding, check out the AskScience discussion on Reddit. It’s a great place to learn more and ask questions!
Research the history of reindeer herding in Alaska. Create a timeline that highlights key events and challenges faced by herders. Present your timeline to the class and discuss how these challenges impacted the reindeer industry.
Divide into two groups. One group will argue in favor of reindeer herding, while the other will support cattle farming. Use historical and economic points from the article to support your arguments. After the debate, discuss which industry you think would be more sustainable today and why.
Investigate how climate change affects reindeer populations today. Create a poster that explains the challenges reindeer face due to changing weather patterns. Include potential solutions or adaptations that could help reindeer herders manage these challenges.
Write a short story from the perspective of a reindeer living in Alaska. Describe its daily life, the environment, and the challenges it faces. Share your story with the class and discuss how it reflects the information from the article.
Explore the cultural significance of reindeer in different societies, including their role in holiday traditions. Create a presentation or a skit that showcases how reindeer are perceived in various cultures and how these perceptions have changed over time.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, this is Kate from MinuteEarth. In North America, we tend to think of reindeer once a year as semi-mythical creatures that pull Santa’s sleigh around the world. Yet not only are reindeer real, but if things had gone a little differently, we might be enjoying reindeer burgers.
When the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in the late 1800s, American entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to replicate Russia’s long-established reindeer herding industry and began shipping domesticated reindeer to Alaska. However, reindeer can be quite elusive. Entire herds disappeared into the vast Alaskan landscape, where they either perished or mingled with the area’s native wild reindeer.
Reindeer herders in Europe and Russia faced similar challenges, but with a 3,000-year head start, they had a better understanding of their animals’ behavior. Another factor that hindered the reindeer industry in North America was competition from cattle. Despite marketing efforts for reindeer products, Americans preferred beef, purchasing it in far greater quantities. The cattle industry even lobbied against reindeer, leading to local laws that prohibited its sale.
The reindeer industry faced tough times, and then the Great Depression hit. As people’s incomes fell, so did their interest in trying reindeer meat. Many herders, unable to recover their costs, allowed their animals to roam freely, and within 20 years, over 90% of these reindeer succumbed to overgrazing, predators, and the wild.
Today, a small reindeer herding industry still exists in far northwest Alaska, but most of the meat is consumed locally. New challenges, such as a warming climate that can trap reindeer food under ice, are making it even more difficult to manage these animals.
So for most of us, reindeer will likely remain associated with Santa’s sleigh: Rudolph, with his nose so bright, won’t be on your plate tonight.
You might not be eating reindeer this holiday season, but here’s something easier to access: a free trial subscription to Audible. They are the leading provider of audiobooks, with an unmatched selection of titles across all types of literature. One interesting pick is “The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey,” by Roger Highfield, which suggests that, scientifically speaking, Rudolph might actually be female.
To find out why, download “The Physics of Christmas,” or choose another book for free by visiting audible.com/minuteearth and signing up for a 30-day trial. Also, if you’d like to learn more about reindeer biology or the history of reindeer herding, join us and some reindeer experts on Reddit, which is hosting an AskScience discussion about this video. The link is in the description. See you there!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Reindeer – A species of deer found in Arctic and Subarctic regions, known for their adaptations to cold environments. – Reindeer have thick fur and large hooves that help them survive in the snowy tundra.
Alaska – The largest state in the United States, located in the northwest corner of North America, known for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. – Alaska’s vast wilderness is home to many species, including bears, moose, and reindeer.
Herding – The practice of caring for and managing groups of animals, often used in agriculture and traditional societies. – The indigenous people of Siberia have a long history of herding reindeer for their livelihood.
Meat – The edible flesh of animals, which is a source of protein and nutrients for many organisms. – In biology class, we learned how different cultures rely on various types of meat for their diets.
Cattle – Domesticated bovine animals raised for milk, meat, and other products. – The history of cattle domestication dates back thousands of years and has significantly impacted human societies.
Depression – A period of economic downturn that can affect societies and their environments. – The Great Depression of the 1930s led to significant changes in farming practices and land use.
Environment – The natural world, including all living and non-living things, that surrounds and affects organisms. – Protecting the environment is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
Climate – The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular region, including temperature, precipitation, and wind. – Scientists study climate to understand how changes in the atmosphere affect life on Earth.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, and how they shape the present and future. – Learning about the history of ancient civilizations helps us understand how human societies have evolved.
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, and evolution. – In biology class, we explored the different ecosystems and how organisms interact within them.
