I’m not 100% sure of the accuracy of this but it certainly sounds plausible. Perhaps Santa could confirm this?
According to the Alaskan Dept. of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, the male antlers drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring.
Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa’s reindeer, EVERY single one of them from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.
We should have known… only women would be able to drag a (ahem – sorry Santa) rather largish man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost!
Well, it is true that male adult reindeer loose their antlers at the start of winter – but females who are not pregnant also loose antlers during winter. Young males and pregnant females keep their antlers for longer.
Remember that December is winter at the North Pole so many reindeer could still have antlers for Chirstmas Eve. And of course, with Santa’s magic, anything is possible!
Thanks for the clarification Santa’s Elf 🙂
Go girls 🙂
In addition, since the North Pole is probably far away from Alaska, it’s also likely that the Reindeer Santa has to pull his sleigh may be a different breed of reindeer that haven’t been discovered yet; ones that keep their horns and fly. Hey, if I discovered flying reindeer, I wouldn’t want anyone to take them away from me either.
Great point, sorrowscal – Santa could well be keeping a special species secret!
I hope it’s not weird that I’ve done some scientific research into this as a child I hope. I’m at least relatively sure I’m the only one. The theory I came up with for the subspecies is the same theory of how Raptor-dinosaurs would eventually evolve into our birds of pray while mammoths and sabre-tooth tigers also went through their own changes.
It does fit in with evolution and survival of the fittest – and these reindeer would be the fittest for Santa’s purpose 🙂
It would also explain why Santa’s reindeer seem to have a differing diet from regular reindeer. Apparently regular reindeer like grass and moss. I can understand the grass, but moss is some major commitment.
“moss is a major commitment” LOL!