Here's everything you need to know about reindeer antlers, from when they emerge, how often they shed and more. There are as many theories on the causes of different antler colors as there are different antlers. One hunter conducted his own experiments to learn the truth.
Rare and Unique Reindeer Colors While most reindeer exhibit shades of brown and gray, some rare individuals possess strikingly white coats. These truly white reindeer are distinct from those with light winter coats, and their unique appearance is usually due to genetic conditions like leucism or albinism. Appearance: Antlers are arguably the reindeer's most defining characteristic.
Compared to body size, reindeer have the largest and heaviest antlers of all living deer species. Reindeer are unique amongst deer species in being the only one where females and calves grow antlers as well as the males. The size of the antlers is determined chiefly by age.
Reindeer living in the mountainous areas have lighter-coloured and broader antlers, whereas reindeer in the forest areas have darker and narrower antlers, which makes it easier to walk around trees. The Colour of a Reindeer The colouring of a reindeer varies from almost black to white. There are dozens of different names for these colours.
When the rut is finally complete, the reindeer will start shedding its antlers again in November or December. This is accompanied by several other anatomical changes, including the growth of a white winter coat, harder hooves to break through the ice and forage for vegetation, and a transformation of the iris color from gold to blue. The males will have completely shed all antlers by the end.
Mike: Why do some bucks have chocolate antlers and others white racks? Seems like dark antlers are slightly more common on bigger bucks, am I right?-Tim from MN Whitetail biologist Mickey Hellickson told me in an email one time: Antler coloration is determined by several things, including: (1) buck age (older, more dominant bucks make many more rubs on trees than younger bucks, therefore. Reindeer antlers come in a variety of colors, including brown, black, and white. Reindeer antlers are made of bone and are covered in a velvet.
Facts about Reindeer Reindeer are large mammals that can be found in the tundra regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and Greenland. Both male and female reindeer can have antlers, but males usually have larger ones. Sometimes called caribou (CARE-i-boo), they vary in color and size.