Santa's Reindeer Visit The Dalles

The Dalles, Ore., December 5, 2023 – Two of Santa’s reindeer in training, Cookie and Elf made an appearance at Coastal Farm and Ranch last night to the delight of families who came to see the reindeer and enjoy some free cookies and hot chocolate.

“They're both female, Cookie is 6 years old and Elf is 7 years old,” said Thorp McClaren, professional reindeer handler. 

He says this pair is still in training to join Santa’s sleigh.

“The reason they don’t fly away is because if they did they’d get grounded,” jokes McClaren.

Local children play some reindeer games of their own.

McClaren has been a reindeer handler for eleven years. 

“They are just majestic. I love every minute,” said McClaren.

There’s currently only nine reindeer in Oregon and apparently they all live in Eugene, OR. Which is a good thing because they are herd animals and can’t survive on their own.

“You can’t have on on their own they get lonely,” said McClaren

When the reindeer aren’t touring every Coastal Farm and Ranch in the area, they spend most of their down time running around through the trees as a part of a herd. 

“They have a tendon in their foot, that when they turn a year old, it makes a snapping noise. That’s so that when they’re up on the tundra, if there’s a blizzard they can hear the snapping noise and stay with the heard and not get lost or picked off by wolves,” said McClaren

On top of that reindeer have super sniffers!

“Their noses are so sensitive they can smell their food five feet underneath the snow,” said McClaren.

Still their presence in Oregon is highly regulated because they can get a disease in their hood which can kill regular deer if they mix in the wild. Luckily this herd is disease free, but the state doesn’t want to take any chances, which is why if you want to see a reindeer in Oregon you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for the next time Cookie and Elf make their annual visit to town.