Reindeer herding is one of the oldest livelihoods here along fishing and hunting. Reindeer have been tamed from the wild deer centuries ago. Before their domestication, men used to hunt wild deer, but when the amount of deer started to drop, people decided to domesticate the wild animal.
When people started the reindeer herding it meant also a change in their lifestyles. The families used to move the whole household to winter and summer pastures with the reindeer, and were leading the life of nomads. The families and reindeer moved back and forth between Finland and Norway, and Sweden and Norway. The summer time used to be spent on the shores of Arctic ocean, where mosquitos don’t disturb the animals, and the winters were spent in the inland, forest areas. That is why the Lappish people used lavvus (Lappish tents) as homes, because they were easy to put up and down, when the family had to move with the reindeer to a new grazing land. In the old times people used to ski and walk to gather the troops. The arrival of modern times with all sorts of new equipment changed this traditional way of life. Today reindeer herders use snowmobiles and ATVs to do the daily herding work and drive long distances. This makes it possible for the families to have permanent homes in the villages close to the wilderness areas.
Reindeer herding is based on year’s cycle that nature determines. The heat is in October and the female carries the calf until the late spring. The calves are born in May and started to walk already a couple of hours after their birth. The Golden Eagle is the biggest threat for the calves. The calves gathered with their moms in the end of June to corrals were their ears are marked. Each reindeer belongs to an owner. In autumn and winter the reindeer are gathered again to corrals for counting. Their number is limited by law, to protect the nature from over-grazing.
The reindeer eats in the summer all kinds of herbs, hays and mushrooms. In winter time their main source of nutrition is lichen. They love especially reindeer moss and usnea. Their nutrition greatly affects the fantastic taste of the meat!
When people started the reindeer herding it meant also a change in their lifestyles. The families used to move the whole household to winter and summer pastures with the reindeer, and were leading the life of nomads. The families and reindeer moved back and forth between Finland and Norway, and Sweden and Norway. The summer time used to be spent on the shores of Arctic ocean, where mosquitos don’t disturb the animals, and the winters were spent in the inland, forest areas. That is why the Lappish people used lavvus (Lappish tents) as homes, because they were easy to put up and down, when the family had to move with the reindeer to a new grazing land. In the old times people used to ski and walk to gather the troops. The arrival of modern times with all sorts of new equipment changed this traditional way of life. Today reindeer herders use snowmobiles and ATVs to do the daily herding work and drive long distances. This makes it possible for the families to have permanent homes in the villages close to the wilderness areas.
Reindeer herding is based on year’s cycle that nature determines. The heat is in October and the female carries the calf until the late spring. The calves are born in May and started to walk already a couple of hours after their birth. The Golden Eagle is the biggest threat for the calves. The calves gathered with their moms in the end of June to corrals were their ears are marked. Each reindeer belongs to an owner. In autumn and winter the reindeer are gathered again to corrals for counting. Their number is limited by law, to protect the nature from over-grazing.
The reindeer eats in the summer all kinds of herbs, hays and mushrooms. In winter time their main source of nutrition is lichen. They love especially reindeer moss and usnea. Their nutrition greatly affects the fantastic taste of the meat!
Marking the reindeer's ear
Reindeer in corral, Sweden
