Reindeers’ Calendar Routine
January and February-During this season of snow, reindeers eagerly dig and search lichens for their food. Reindeer’s big feet help them to protect from the coldness of the snow and to walk through the snow without the danger of sinking or going to deep.
March- On this month of the year, the new antlers of the male reindeers start to grow. The budding antlers are relatively tender and can be easily damaged. On the other hand, the female reindeers and their calves still have their antlers during this month.
April- Throughout this month the male reindeer’s antlers are growing continuously and they also tend to isolate from the main herds to avoid aggressive female reindeers. This is also the period when the two-year old male reindeers leave their mother and their younger siblings to join the group of male reindeers.
May- This is known as the reindeers calving season when newly born reindeer calves are seen running with their mother as soon as they are born. Young reindeer calves are known to be very intelligent and strong young animals as they can keep up with migrating herds. The antlers of female reindeers are usually shedding by this time but some female have already started to grow their new antlers.
June- On this month reindeer shed off their winter clothes leaving a short, dark and sleek summer coat giving them a more gorgeous appearance. The reindeer, affected by summer heat and flies which are their enemies will go to the hill or semi-permanent snow fields found high in Cairngorms. Their food at this time is mainly grass, bilberry and heather. This is also the period when the young calves have their budding antlers.
July - This month together with August is likely to be the hottest period. The reindeer usually lost their good condition because of incurred insect bites during the hot summer days. They rush off to snow fields to escape the summer heat and pestering bites of flies and mosquito.
August- The antlers of the male reindeers are fully grown at this month and splinted from the underlying bone.
September - During this month it is usual to see the male reindeers fighting to gain their dominance and prepare for rutting season. It is also the month where the feeding habit of reindeer became more active as they search for mushrooms that grow on the dry ridges.
October- In this month the rut is in full bloom. The reindeer look elegant because the lighter winter coats are coming out.
November- In this winter season, reindeers is protected by their thick coats that allow them to have the insulation to maintain balance in their temperature and they continue to dig on with the snow to find their foods.
December- In this cold breezing month, the old male reindeers were starting to shed off their antlers. This is also the month where the female reindeers are leading and dominant over the male reindeers because the female still have their antlers. They used their antlers to compete for food during winter.
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06.06.2006.