I’m sitting on the train from Swedish Lapland headed back home to Oslo and I cannot stop giggling. Not even giggling – straight out laughing. Hopefully the people around me just think I’m watching funny cat videos on Facebook because what I’m actually doing might seem totally weird and not something to laugh for a solid twenty minutes over.
I’m editing photos of reindeer.
Aaah they’re just so cute! And hilarious. Did we know reindeer were hilarious? I feel like I always knew reindeer were super magical creatures, but they are also so weird and awkward and funny.
I visited the Sami village of Rávttas to see the reindeer, on an excursion with Lights over Lapland (a company that my friends Chris and Rachel work for!).
During the summer the reindeer roam free, while in the winter their Sami herders round them up (at least the ones they can find) and gather them together in a big pen.
I went inside the pen to feed them, but took most of my photos from outside just because it felt safer. Even though the reindeer were definitely more wary of me than I was of them. Also, reindeer only have front teeth on the bottom jaw, so it’s not like you have to worry about getting bitten!
The young ones were really friendly and were happy to be petted, whereas the older ones were a little less sure of me.
Like, if you tried to pet them they would just slowly inch away from you, keeping one I on you just in case.
I was surprised by how still they always stood, kind of like they were in the middle of performing a Mannequin Challenge, but I guess that’s to conserve energy?
Apparently reindeer have been helping humans survive since all the way back to the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and all those other really ancient sounding “lithic” periods.
And back when the earth was cooler and humans were less of a threat, they could be found living as far south as Spain!
In the winter reindeer eat a kind of moss that they can smell through the snow.
Reindeer fur is like, actual magic – it’s made up of hollow tubes which give extra insulation and also help keep reindeer afloat when crossing water.
Some reindeer travel up to 5,000 km in a year!
They pant to cool down.
And sometimes they tilt their heads back and howl like wolves.
Jk, reindeer don’t actually do that. At least, not that I know of…
I think that’s it for interesting reindeer facts I picked up in Lapland, so now I’ll just show you a bunch more photos, because no blog post can have too many photos of reindeer, right?
I’ll be back soon with more posts about my time in Swedish Lapland, including information on how you can visit these reindeer too, so stay tuned!
Renee says
What a cool trip and, man, what priceless pictures! I love them all.
Silvia says
It really was so fun!
Anne Morgan says
These are the best reindeer pictures EVER! And I say that as someone who has taken a LOT of reindeer pictures. I love the way you’ve captured the expressions.
Silvia says
Haha I actually totally forgot to take any photos of them until five minutes before leaving, so maybe they look so weirded out because they’re like, who is this girl frantically shoving a camera in my face??
LC says
You could have put another 20 photos of these kooky creatures in and I would have been a happy woman. I saw my first reindeer last year… in the wild in Svalbard. He coolly regarded us and then slowly walked away. What an awesomely self-possessed animal.
Silvia says
Yet another reason to be so jealous of your Svalbard trip!
Melanie Fontaine | Journey & Camera says
These reindeer are so cute!! The first time I saw a reindeer was during a hike in Jotunheimen NP and it was a seriously cool moment – and hearing about your experience makes me want to visit this place, too, so I can pet some reindeer! 😉
Silvia says
Oh wow, I bet that must have been magical!
Tosh says
LMAO!!! That cover photo of the reindeer kills me!! Love it!! Crazy eyes!! :’)
Silvia says
Right? I lol at it every time.
Vanda says
Loved these pictures! Their eyes are so funny and curious 😀 never saw a reindeer, so can’t wait to read more about this place 😉
Silvia says
Aren’t they? It always looks like they’re super wide-eyed.
Sophie Nadeau says
Oh my goodness: I’ve never actually seen a reindeer in real life! They’re so adorable (and I love the captions you’ve added- too funny)
Silvia says
Oh my goodness you need to find some real life reindeer then – they are so fun!
Kate - Travel for Difference says
This is incredible!!!!! I tried so hard to find a Reindeer when I was in Iceland but had no luck. They are just toooooo cute X
Silvia says
Whoa, I didn’t even realize Iceland had reindeer!
McKenzie Allyshia says
Oh my gosh, I love the photos that you shared! They are so cute! I am glad that you had such a great time. We have a local farm that has a reindeer, but he isn’t the most friendly…
Silvia says
Aw you have to visit some other reindeer then!
Victoria @The British Berliner says
Awww! They’re so cute. I want to touch their fur!
They so remind me of our cats, snuggling and nudging you with their heads and paws. And the reindeer that is panting and looks as if it’s about to howl, is just hilarious!
Csaba & Bea says
Love your random posts about snowy landscapes and cute raindeer… We’ve seen raindeer only once so far and it was a Christmas program organized by the California Academy of Sciences. Next time we plant to meet them somewhere more snowy. 😀
Caitlin says
What a fun experience! And they make the greatest faces. So funny!
infosharp says
A rare white reindeer calf was seen in Norway and Even poses for a photo http://www.dailyamericanbuzz.com/2018/12/a-rare-white-reindeer-calf-was-seen-in.html