Get in the holiday spirit at the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm

Wintertime in the Pacific Northwest offers outdoor adventure galore. Take to the slopes on skis or a snowboard, carve figure eights on the ice, experience the rush of snowmobiling or make tracks in the woods on a pair of snowshoes.

Not all activities, though, require high octane exertion. You can easily get in the seasonal mood with a visit to the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, located just one mile from the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, the farm is home to about two dozen reindeer, along with a gaggle of other animals including chickens, turkeys, mini ponies, draft horses and bunnies. 

This is the only reindeer farm in the Lower 48 that’s open year-round to the public. Owners Kari and Hans Andersen started raising reindeers several years ago. Story has it that the couple used to run a commercial horse-and-carriage ride business in Leavenworth and would always participate in the holiday parade. One year, the town’s artificial reindeer mascot couldn’t be used because of the rain. Hans humorously remarked to Santa Claus that next year he’ll have real reindeer.

Kari got a twinkle in her eye and began researching whether they could even bring reindeer to town. She and Hans started attending conferences on reindeer husbandry and went to Alaska to visit reindeer farms. Eventually, after much red tape, they got the okay to bring a permanent herd to Leavenworth. The logistics of accomplishing this goal were complicated, resulting in a six-day ferry ride for the Andersens and their newly adopted reindeer. 

Currently, there are 23 reindeer on the farm, with six more calves expected next year. Each is given a winter/holiday-related name, so you’ll find Blitzen, Vixen, Comet, Jack Frost and Sugar Plum and other such monikers in the mix. 

The Andersens raise the reindeer for agritourism, to educate visitors about these fascinating creatures and to make them aware of the need to protect them. The species is in trouble due to habitat loss and the effects of climate change. There are no more wild reindeer left in the contiguous United States. 

The reindeer naturally take centerstage at the farm, as most visitors have never seen these creatures in the flesh, let alone had the chance to meet them up close. Sure, they’ve been featured prominently and extensively in movies, books and songs, which makes us think we already know them. Real reindeer, however, are even more spectacular in person. They might not be capable of the holiday heroics described in the famed tales, but they are still wondrous creatures. 

On a tour of the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, you’ll discover many fun facts about these animals. No, they can’t fly, but they really do make a clicking sound when they walk. That’s because they have tendons that slide over their foot bones as they walk, producing a loud click. The noise helps them hear one another in inclement weather, thus enabling herds to remain together. 

Their nose, though not red like Rudolph’s, is quite notable for the purpose it serves. As it breathes in, a reindeer’s nose warms the air before it enters the lungs. Conversely, when it expels breath, the nose cavity cools the air by seventy degrees. This system allows the reindeer to conserve heat and energy in the cold. 

Unlike Rudolph, reindeer don’t need a red, glowing nose to get through a blizzard, as they are one of the few animals that can see ultraviolet light. You’ll also learn that their eye color changes with the seasons. In summer, the hue is a dazzling golden, while in winter it’s deep blue. Scientists say that this change in color helps the reindeer’s eyes capture more light during the dark winter months up in the Arctic. 

After the educational presentation part of the tour, visitors enter the reindeer enclosure and get to mingle among the herd. One of the joys about meeting live reindeer is the realization that they’re quite docile. At first glance, they can look a bit intimidating, as they weigh on average 300 to 400 pounds (Sven, the resident bull, tops out at a whopping 600 pounds!) and boast formidable antlers, but in reality, they’re very gentle. 

Both female and male reindeer have antlers, which they grow each year and then shred. The antlers can be up to twelve inches long and weigh a max of thirty pounds. It’s hard to imagine carrying around that kind of heft on your head!

Each visitor is given a small bowl of feed containing such delectable delights as willow, birch and aspen. The reindeer will eat right from your hand and you can feel their velvety snouts as they nibble away. Being domesticated, they are accustomed to people and most will also patiently pose for the eager paparazzi clamoring to take pictures. 

For the thousands of people who visit the farm annually, interacting with a reindeer is a magical memorable experience. And it’s a great way to herald in the winter season.