Ed note: Hopper Bros. will be bringing two live reindeer to the Central Coast: through Dec. 11 at the Santa Maria Fairpark and Dec. 13 to 19 at 8th and Spring Street in Paso Robles.
Ā
NEW TIMES Why are the reindeer coming here?
HOPPER Last year we brought the reindeer for our special 25th anniversary celebration. There was so much interest, and everybody enjoyed them so much that we brought them back for a second year
Ā
NEW TIMES Where do reindeer come from?
HOPPER These particular animals reside on a reindeer farm near Tehachapi most of the year
Ā
NEW TIMES How do they fare in warmer climates?
HOPPER They fare just fine. ā¦. It does get hot out there on the tundra in summer. Theyāre tolerant of heat. Of course, they prefer the cold. Thereās thousands and thousands of hair per square inch.
Ā
NEW TIMES What is unique about their lifestyle?
HOPPER Reindeer come from Lapland, and they were domesticated by the Laplanders thousands of years ago. Theyāre more of a domesticated animal than a wild animal. ā¦ Itās the only member of the deer family where both the male and the female have antlers. ā¦ When they walk theyāre ankles have a snap to themāa crackāand thatās so they can keep track of each of them. Theyāre totally a herd-instinct animal.
Ā
NEW TIMES Weāve heard theyāre mean; is that true?
HOPPER Thatās not true. Where somebody might get that idea: A lot of people think theyāre fuzzy, warm, cuddly like a kitty or a dog. But theyāre more like a domesticated range animal. ā¦ Theyāre used to people, but theyāre not pets. ā
This article appears in Dec 8-15, 2011.