“Grandma got run over by a reindeer...”⁣ 🎶 ⁣ But was it really a reindeer or actually a caribou? Caribou and reindeer are almost identical, sharing the same genus and species name. A big difference is geography: reindeer live in northern Europe and Asia while caribou are in North America. Although they look almost identical, caribou can be identified by having longer legs and leaner bodies. (Makes it easier to target those who’ve had too much eggnog.) Reindeer are also typically more sedentary and have thicker fur. (There’s a rumor at least one has a red nose, but they could just be cold.) In conclusion, watch out for wildlife. ⁣ ⁣ P.S. No grandmas were hurt in the writing of this post. Be safe out there. ⁣ Image: Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) running across the snow at Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska. ⁣ ⁣ #reindeer #caribou #Alaska #holidayseason #carols #winter