DanLJ images

Mom and Offspring reindeer, floundering through the deep snow,
keeping a wary eye on the intruders, March 13, 2002; Sodankyla region.
Contax 645, 80mm, 1/1000 f11 Kodak Portra 400NC
Created with The GIMP
Copyright © 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

We are not very far from Russia here, in Ivalo, Finland.
That's 303 as in kilometers, not miles.
March 12, 2002
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

The arctic birch forest, near the 70th parallel, March 12, 2002.
The Tiaga -- the arctic pine forest -- is far to the south;
the tundra -- the treeless arctic is about 100 km north.
The dents in the snow are reindeer browse: they use their broad hooves to shovel away the snow and eat grass and lichens underneath.Near Utsjoki, Finland.
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

The end of the Tiaga; reindeer sign.
Northern Lapland, looking towards Norway.
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

OK, it's just pretty. That's why I took it. Yes, there are more like it.
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

Reindeer pits in the snow: grazing sites.
March 12, 2002; Northern Lapland.
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

the reindeer have been busy, and have not bothered to cover their tracks.

Copyright © 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

This reindeer is asking the herd why it isn't keeping up.
The red necklace is a band of ownership, and to discourage casual hunters.
March 12, 2002, northern lapland.
Copyright © 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

Yes, these are reindeer in Lapland.
No, I don't know where they are going.
March 12, 2002
Created with The GIMP
Copyright © 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

this photo is just to prove that reindeer are not quite as smart as you expected.
Albert, over there on the right, is thinking that the painted stripe on the road might be lichen, and is nibbling away at it.
The others are not in a bit of hurry to move, even though they are ona fairly
busy highway. These creatures are bigger than whitetail deer, and when a
car hits one, about a half ton of reindeer meat tends to come crashing in through
the windshield, to the physical detriment of the people inside.
Finnish cars and trucks have powerful accessory high beams,with the goal
of avoiding this. At least these animals are slow afoot, and don't come racing
out of the woods at 30 mph like a whitetail deer might.
March 12, 2002
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

The jaywalking reindeer foolishly take the broad way, that leadeth not into the woods. They're awkward runners, but we're not chasing.
March 12, 2002
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

The jaywalkers can move fast on the road, but it isn't getting them any farther from the car. See how wide their hooves are, how they splay broadly on the ground. This is good for dealing with snow and soft ground.
Near Sodankyla, March 12, 2002.
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson

In deep snow, the going is slower but the car can't pursue Mom here. The teen has gone on ahead; Mom stops to make sure we aren't following. Not a chance. The snow is hip deep. March 12, 2002
Copyright 2002 Daniel L. Johnson