A hiker in Norway discovered a one-of-a-kind wild reindeer trap that Iron age inhabitants would have used to catch their dinner en masse. Alongside the large wooden trap was a trove of hunting supplies and other artifacts, revealing a wealth of information about the culture and organization of early Norwegian society in the far north. […]
Tag: reindeer
Reindeer numbers may fall by more than half by 2100 as Arctic warms: Study
Global reindeer populations could fall by more than half by 2100 due to the impacts of climate change, including the shrinking of their habitats, according to a recent study, Mongabay’s Sonam Lama Hyolmo reports. Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), known in North America as caribou, live only in frozen tundra and boreal forests near the Arctic, and […]
Petition: Justice for Star the Reindeer – Demand a Full Investigation Now
The people of Anchorage have lost a local treasure. Star, the beloved reindeer who had become a symbol of joy and tradition in the heart of the city, was euthanized after a series of disturbing incidents. For years, Star was a fixture of the Anchorage community, bringing happiness to children and adults alike. Star’s presence, […]
Petition: Urgent Action Needed — Investigate the Tragic Death of Anchorage’s Reindeer Star
The people of Anchorage have lost a local treasure. Star, the beloved reindeer who had become a symbol of joy and tradition in the heart of the city, was euthanized after a series of disturbing incidents. For years, Star was a fixture of the Anchorage community, bringing happiness to children and adults alike. Star’s presence, […]
Ghosts of the landscape: how folklore and songs are key to rewilding Finland’s reindeer
The Finnish folk musician Liisa Matveinen lives in a mustard-coloured house in Ilomantsi, 12 miles (20km) from the Russian border. Large books of folk songs line her walls. Sitting in her kitchen, Matveinen sings about a humble hunter going into the woods to find reindeer. The song tells us how they were “honoured” providers of […]
As polar ice caps melt, how are ‘Christmas animals’ faring?
Between snowy winters and holiday songs, many animals come to mind during Christmas. There are polar bears wearing Santa hats and red-nosed reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh. Turtle doves and the partridge in a pear tree are also immortalized in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” But climate change and habitat loss are taking a […]
Arctic Animals Face Growing Disease Threats as Climate Warms
Karyn Rode, a seasoned research wildlife biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Science Center, emphasizes the polar bear‘s role as a bellwether for broader ecological shifts. “Pathogens’ transmission pathways are changing, including in the Arctic,” Rode notes, highlighting the rapid environmental transformations underway. The region is warming at a pace four times the global […]
Hedmark, Norway
I’ll be off to Hedmark again before I am finished with the posts from my trip last week. Here are the final pictures and now it is only videos to go. This post features amongst others Siberian Jay, Three-toed Woodpecker, Parrot Crossbill, Slavonian Grebe, Waxwing, Cuckoo and Willow Tit (which was seen in an as […]