Up On The Housetop Click, Click, Click
Just reading the song title above creates so many Christmas memories for me. The title sort of made sense, since Santa does come down the chimney, but I always used to wonder why “click, click, click.”
Now, I know the answer to that question, thanks to the staff at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park who take care of the nine reindeer that visit Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. The “click, click, click” is the sound the reindeer make as they walk; it is the sound of a tendon as it snaps against the bone in the foot. Since reindeer eyesight is not very good, this sound helps the herd stay together during foggy and dreary days.
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane opens Friday, November 11 and this year marks the 20th year for the Reindeer Stables. I learn something new each time I visit and talk with the Zoo Naturalists.
Here are some fun things I have learned during my visits:
Reindeer have a very good sense of smell; they can smell food under several inches of snow.
Reindeer look different than the white-tailed deer we see in Pennsylvania. Reindeer have short ears, a short tail and a stocky body to hold in the heat.
Reindeer have two coats of fur. The bottom coat is like lamb’s wool, it twists around the outer coat to keep the moisture out and the heat in.
Reindeer have fur on their nose and on their lips which protects them from frostbite.
I hope this information has made you curious to learn more about reindeer. Please come out to the Reindeer Stables at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane and see these fascinating creatures in person. The staff is happy to answer your questions!
For more information about Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, click here.