Fluorescent Moose Antlers, Hooves and More
I hope the moose researchers in Minnesota are keeping track of how the people of Finland are working to save their reindeer. A large number of reindeer are ran over every year there and in order to prevent some of the deaths they are painting antlers with flourescent paint. Not many of the moose on the Gunflint Trail are ran over by vehicles and not all moose have antlers but as long as we are radio collaring them we may as well paint them with reflective paint too just as a precaution. (Just in case you can’t tell, I’m being sarcastic here)
Finns give reindeer fluorescent antler makeovers
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In this picture taken on Feb. 15, 2014 in Rovaniemi, Finland and provided by the Reindeer Herders’ Association, a reindeer is seen with fluorescent antlers after a test in which Finnish herders dabbed it with fluorescent paint. Rudolph the reindeer is having a glittering antler makeover _ the latest attempt to halt some of the thousands of road deaths of the roaming caribou in the wilds of Finland. (AP Photo/Anne Ollila, Executive Director of the Reindeer Herders’ Association, Finland/Lehtikuva)
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HELSINKI (AP) — Rudolph the reindeer is having a glittering antler makeover – the latest attempt to halt some of the thousands of road deaths of the roaming caribou in the wilds of Finland.Anne Ollila of the Finnish Reindeer Herder’s Association says the antlers of 20 reindeer have been painted with various fluorescent dyes to see how the animals react and whether the paints are resistant to the harsh Arctic climate.
If successful, animals with glittering antlers will be free to roam Lapland – a vast, deserted area in northern Finland where herders tend to some 200,000 reindeer.
Ollila says reflectors and reflective tape have proven unsuccessful as reindeer have torn them off – and road signs warning drivers of roaming reindeer often are stolen by tourists as souvenirs.
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