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Christmas Reindeer

Ever wonder how reindeer became associated with Christmas? Reindeer are not fictional animals like some may think. They live in the arctic tundra and damp forests of Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska, and Canada. Some North American reindeer migrate over 3,000 miles in a year, more than any other land animal. Reindeer spend up to 40% of their lives in snow, so they’ve developed special adaptations to help survive the chilly conditions. Their hollow fur helps to trap heat. They are also the only deer species to have hair completely covering their nose. Reindeer do actually have red noses like Rudolph! Tiny veins circulate warm blood around their nose, heating up the air they breathe in so they don’t get too cold.

Reindeer are the only species of deer that have been domesticated; in some regions, caribou are considered the wild counterpart and reindeer the domestic one, but they are functionally the same animal. They have been used to pull sleds in parts of Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Russia, which is likely why Santa uses them with his sled!

 

Materials: cardboard, brown yarn, brown paint, paintbrush, (2) clothespins, (1) brown pipe cleaner, (1) red pom pom, (2) googly eyes, glue dots, scissors

Directions:

  1. Begin by cutting a triangle out of the cardboard.

 

  1. Next use tape or a glue dot to secure the end of the yarn to the cardboard. Wrap the yarn around the cardboard triangle until most of the space is filled.

 

  1. Once you have reached your desired yarn coverage, cut the yarn and secure the end using tape or a glue dot.

 

  1. Next paint the two clothespins brown.

 

  1. Cut the pipe cleaner in half and wrap each half around a clothespin to secure it. Shape the pipe cleaners into antlers. Clip the clothespins onto one side of the triangle.

 

  1. Use a glue dot to attach the red pom pom to the point of the triangle, opposite of the side with the clothespins. Attach the two googly eyes above the pom pom.

 

Add your reindeer to your Christmas tree and enjoy looking at it all season long!

Due to Hurricane Hilary, all  departments will be closing at 3pm today.  Stay safe!