{"id":57038,"date":"2026-01-12T13:32:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T11:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/?post_type=project&p=57038"},"modified":"2026-02-06T12:41:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T10:41:09","slug":"reindeer","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/visitsodankylasompio.fi\/en\/palvelu\/reindeer\/","title":{"rendered":"Reindeer"},"content":{"rendered":"

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You can spot reindeer anywhere in Sodankyl\u00e4\u2013Sompio<\/h3>\n

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In the old days, wild forest reindeer roamed the Sodankyl\u00e4\u2013Sompio region in large herds, and they were hunted using, among other methods, pitfall traps. Over time, the wild reindeer disappeared and were replaced by semi-domesticated animals bred from Norwegian wild reindeer: the reindeer we know today.<\/p>\n

The S\u00e1mi people have always made their living from the nature of Lapland: they have fished, hunted, picked berries and mushrooms, but above all, they lived off the reindeer. Long ago, large herds of wild forest reindeer wandered through Sompio, and they were hunted with methods such as pitfall traps.<\/p>\n

Adventurer Samuli Paulaharju described the wild reindeer herds of Sompio in his 1939 work Sompio<\/em>:
\u201cIt was a magnificent sight when a wild reindeer herd moved through the wilderness. Hundreds of antlers swayed, hooves clicked as the reindeer ran lightly on their long legs, and when startled, they galloped away like the wind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eventually, the wild reindeer disappeared, and in their place came the semi-domesticated reindeer bred from Norwegian wild reindeer. Today, you can see reindeer anywhere in Sompio. Reindeer spend most of the year living freely in the wild, but each one belongs to a reindeer herder. During regular reindeer roundups, all reindeer are gathered into an enclosure where they are separated according to their owners and their fate \u2014 at this stage, some are selected for slaughter. Calves are marked with ear tags and registered to their rightful owners. The roundups also reveal whether any animals have gone missing. After the sorting is complete, the reindeer are released back into the wilderness of Lapland until the next roundup.<\/p>\n

When you follow reindeer up-close, notice how their hooves make a soft clip-clop sound with each step. By listening to these sounds it is easy for the reindeer to stay together as a group when grazing with their heads down in the brush.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the rutting period the stags can be unpredictable and it is best to be wary of them. Even though that is when the stags are at their handsomest, do not approach them, not even to photograph them. A proverb says that when the lingonberries are ripe, you should beware the reindeer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tip!\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>At the end of the year you can buy various reindeer meat products in the grocery shops in Sodankyl\u00e4. For example, calf liver and reindeer tongue are delicious local tastes, and quite inexpensive treats, too. Don\u2019t hesitate to try them \u2013 there are recipes available online!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reindeers down the road<\/h3>\n

You can come across reindeer while driving down the road. In the spring, as the snow melts, animals come to eat the vegetation sprouting on the verges. The reindeer move onto the roads as the period of blood-sucking insects intensifies in June and July. The wind on the open road reduces the number of horseflies, mosquitoes and blackflies tormenting the reindeer.<\/p>\n

Like many other animals, the reindeer does not have a natural fear of motor vehicles. When driving on the roads of northern Finland, the driver should consider the danger posed by reindeer.<\/p>\n

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In the case of a reindeer crash<\/strong><\/p>\n