The Deer Kingdom – Majestic Beings of the Forest

On today’s show, we will learn how to tell the difference between some very similar animal folk: elk-, deer-, and moose-people, also my family, the reindeer-people. A common feature is many of us have antlers, which can be confusing! So, let us start our journey into discovering more about these marvelous beings by first looking at the elk-folk, one of my larger family members.

Elk are part of the deer family called Cervidae. That group consists of moose, caribou, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk in Idaho in North America. All of these animals have common characteristics. They’re herbivores; that is, they only eat plants. There are other features that are similar among the members of Cervidae. For instance, they all have cloven hooves and small tails. And as I mentioned earlier, many have very impressive headgear! Although all cervids belong to the deer family, there are some members who are simply called deer-people, and they are the smallest ones in the group.

Let us move on now to the amazing moose-people. They are known far and wide for their extraordinary antlers! Moose are easy to recognize because of their huge, flat antlers, which can spread up to 6 feet or 1.8 meters from side to side. In Sweden, they are called kings of the forest!

Compared to other deer, reindeer have the largest antlers relative to their body. Reindeer migrate farther than any other land animal. Reindeer-people are well equipped for living in a frigid environment, surviving the last ice age thanks to several adaptations. For example, they have two kinds of fur: a thick undercoat and an upper layer consisting of longer, air-filled hairs.

Before we get to the end of our program, I would like to share a secret with you. There is a Scandinavian legend that at midnight on Christmas Eve, the animal-people who witnessed the Nativity suddenly received the gift of speech and offered praise to God. And here is another secret: you can communicate with us at any time! You only need to tune in and be receptive. All sentient beings are connected on the inside, as we are all one, nurtured by God’s Love.