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Why do tundra reindeer migrate between forests and tundra?
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deer
Male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
Tundra reindeer migrate between the tundra and boreal forests to optimize their food intake throughout the year.
During the summer, these herds move onto the tundra to feed on nutrient-rich vegetation, including grasses, sedges, the green leaves of shrubs, and new growth from trees like willow and birch, as well as mushrooms.1
As winter approaches, the reindeer return to the shelter of the forests. During this season, their metabolism slows, and they rely on high-carbohydrate reindeer moss, a type of lichen they access by digging craters in the snow. This seasonal movement allows them to survive in harsh environments by balancing the need for high-protein summer forage with the necessity of accessible winter food sources.12