Reindeer are herbivores that eat a wide variety of plant matter, including lichens, mosses, grasses, sedges, leaves, and shrubs. Their diet shifts significantly with the seasons, moving from lush summer vegetation to a winter survival diet dominated by lichens, which they dig out from beneath the snow. Read on to discover how reindeer find food in the harshest conditions, what they eat on Lapland herding ranges, and whether you can feed them yourself during a visit.
What do reindeer eat in the wild?
In the wild, reindeer eat a broad range of vegetation that varies by season. During summer, their diet includes grasses, sedges, herbs, mushrooms, and the leaves of shrubs such as willow and birch. In winter, lichens become the cornerstone of the reindeer diet, providing the carbohydrates they need to survive in sub-zero temperatures when other plant life is buried or dormant.
Lichens are particularly important because they contain a unique carbohydrate called lichenin, which reindeer can digest thanks to specialized microbes in their stomachs. This digestive adaptation sets reindeer apart from most other large herbivores, which cannot break down lichen efficiently.
Beyond lichen, reindeer also consume dried grasses and sedges that poke through the snow, as well as tree bark, twigs, and dried leaves when other food is scarce. In coastal or wetland areas, reindeer have even been observed eating seaweed and bird eggs, demonstrating remarkable dietary flexibility that helps them thrive across the vast Arctic and sub-Arctic landscapes of Lapland and beyond.
How do reindeer find food under snow?
Reindeer locate food buried under snow using their extraordinary sense of smell, which allows them to detect lichen and other vegetation through layers of snow up to several feet deep. Once they identify a promising spot, they use their broad, shovel-shaped hooves to scrape and dig through the snow, a behavior called cratering. This technique is essential to their winter survival.
Their hooves are uniquely adapted for this purpose. In summer, the pads soften to provide grip on wet tundra. In winter, the pads shrink and harden, and the hoof rim becomes more prominent, acting like a natural ice pick and snow shovel. This seasonal transformation means reindeer are essentially carrying their own digging tools wherever they go.
The challenge of cratering becomes significantly harder when temperatures fluctuate and snow melts and refreezes, creating a hard ice crust on the surface. In these conditions, reindeer may struggle to access the lichen beneath, which is one reason why semi-domesticated reindeer in Lapland often receive supplemental feed from herders during particularly harsh winters. The relationship between Sami and Finnish reindeer herders and their animals has been shaped over centuries by exactly this kind of seasonal challenge.
Ready to see these remarkable animals up close? Book your reindeer experience or accommodation at Livo Arctic and discover the magic of Lapland for yourself.
What do reindeer eat on farms and herding ranges in Lapland?
On farms and herding ranges in Lapland, reindeer eat a combination of natural forage and supplemental feed provided by herders. The primary supplemental food is pelletized reindeer feed, a specially formulated mix of grains, minerals, and nutrients designed to meet their dietary needs when natural grazing is limited. Herders also provide hay, silage, and sometimes dried lichen to bridge nutritional gaps during deep winter.
Reindeer herding is a living tradition in Finnish Lapland, practiced by thousands of herders across the region. The semi-wild nature of Lapland’s reindeer means they roam freely across large herding districts for much of the year, grazing on natural vegetation. They are gathered into enclosures only during key periods such as calf marking in summer, roundups in autumn, and feeding support in the harshest winter months.
During these gathering periods, visitors to Lapland have the rare opportunity to observe reindeer up close in a setting that reflects genuine local tradition rather than a staged tourist attraction. The reindeer you encounter on a guided experience in Posio are part of this living herding culture, not simply animals kept for tourism.
Can you feed reindeer by hand when visiting Lapland?
Yes, you can feed reindeer by hand when visiting Lapland, and it is one of the most memorable moments many visitors describe from their trip. On guided reindeer experiences, guests are typically given reindeer pellets or hay to offer directly from their hands. The animals are calm, curious, and accustomed to human contact, making hand feeding a surprisingly intimate and gentle experience.
Feeding a reindeer by hand is not just a photo opportunity. It is a moment of genuine connection with an animal that has shaped the culture, livelihoods, and identity of Lapland for thousands of years. Feeling the soft muzzle of a reindeer nuzzle your palm is the kind of sensory memory that stays with you long after the trip ends.
At Livo Arctic, our reindeer experience includes exactly this. Guests feed the reindeer, take a traditional reindeer sleigh ride through the winter landscape around Lake Livo, and learn about reindeer husbandry and the role these animals play in the nature and culture of Lapland. The experience lasts around two hours and includes a guide, meals, and warm clothing, so you can focus entirely on the moment rather than the logistics.
Experience reindeer the Livo Arctic way
Understanding what reindeer eat gives you a deeper appreciation for just how remarkable these animals are, and how profoundly they are shaped by the Arctic environment they inhabit. Watching a reindeer paw through snow to find lichen, or feeling one gently take feed from your hand, connects you to something ancient and genuinely wild.
Our reindeer experience at Livo Arctic is designed for couples who want that connection without compromise. Set on the shores of Lake Livo in Posio, one of Finnish Lapland’s most unspoiled corners, the experience combines a traditional sleigh ride, hand feeding, and a guided introduction to reindeer herding culture, all for 125 euros per person. It is the kind of afternoon that turns a winter holiday into something you will still be talking about years later.
If you are planning a trip to Lapland in 2026 and want to experience reindeer in a setting that feels authentic rather than manufactured, Posio and Lake Livo offer exactly that. Get in touch with Livo Arctic and let us help you build the perfect Arctic itinerary around experiences like this one.
This content was generated with the help of AI and it may contain mistakes
