Running Reindeer Ranch – Top Spot for Reindeer in Fairbanks, Alaska
Visiting Running Reindeer Ranch is one of the best things to do in Fairbanks, Alaska. This reindeer farm sprung from a childhood passion and became a thriving family-owned small business.
I’ll admit that when I booked my trip to Fairbanks to (hopefully) see the aurora and began my research, this was one of the activities that I was most excited to do. It turned out to be one of my favorite activities of the trip and one that I highly recommend.
Jane, who owns the business and led our tour, is a dynamic and interesting person, very knowledgeable about reindeer and equally passionate about them. We got to know her herd of eight during the tour, including their different personalities and quirks.
If you’re looking for a really fun and unique thing to do in Fairbanks, Alaska, don’t miss out on visiting Running Reindeer Ranch. It’s well worth your time!
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Running Reindeer Ranch Visit Details
Running Reindeer Ranch is located at 1470 Ivans Alley, Fairbanks, AK 99709. Tours are generally offered once daily, and the time may vary based on the time of year.
They last for 2.5 hours and cost between $70 and $110, depending on the time of year.
Check out their events, as they offer fun activities like reindeer yoga. Yes, seriously!
Running Reindeer Ranch Reservations
You do need to make reservations in advance to visit, and it’s very easy through their website. March is a very busy month for them, so it’s advisable to make reservations well in advance. Don’t miss out on this really fun activity.
At the end of the walk with the reindeer, we went to their house for coffee/tea/hot chocolate and homemade chocolate chip cookies. The cookies are Jane’s daughter’s special recipe, and selling these was a primary way that she raised money to purchase her first reindeer. Jane carries on the tradition by offering them tours.
When to Visit Running Reindeer Ranch
You can visit Running Reindeer Ranch any time of the year. As you can see, we visited during the winter. It’s cold, but they have boots you can borrow, gloves, and some other things to help keep you warm. Once we got walking, it wasn’t too bad!
You can also go during the nice weather in the spring, summer, and fall. You can do walks with the reindeer at any time of year. Of course, the summer is lovely, but they are so cute. There really isn’t a bad time to go.
And here’s another thing I recently learned—you may have heard of goat and puppy yoga. Well, you can even do reindeer yoga! I may head back during the summer to do yoga with these guys. They are a lot of fun!
What is a Reindeer?
Anyone who has heard of Santa Claus knows about reindeer. As the song goes: “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose…” Fewer people actually know what a reindeer is, and fewer still have seen one. And no, they don’t have red noses, but they are absolutely adorable.
A reindeer is a type of deer found in the northern regions of the world. They are similar to caribou and are the same genus and species, but caribou are wilder. Caribou are migratory, but reindeer prefer to stay in one location, and as a result, they are very difficult to rehome.
Reindeer were domesticated livestock brought to Alaska from Russia in the late 1800s. They were brought to support the Native Americans, serving as a food source and for labor, pulling sleds, and carrying gear.
This project started with 16 reindeer, and through additional acquisition and breeding, the population grew to a peak of 640,000 in the 1930s. Currently, less than 50,000 reindeer are living in Alaska.
How Running Reindeer Ranch Began
It all started with ten-year-old Robin’s dream to get a horse. However, her mother, Jane, was allergic, so that wasn’t an option. Robin wanted livestock and asked for a goat (“nope”) or sheep (“nope, again.”) They had a series of smaller animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, dogs, and chickens, but Robin’s interest in owning livestock remained.
Jane suggested an animal better suited to the Arctic climate, so Robin asked for a reindeer. Jane agreed if she raised the funds for one, learned how to care for them, and committed to their care. She admitted that she figured that would be the end of it, but it wasn’t.
Robin’s two-year project began to research how to care for a reindeer. She held several fundraisers to raise money for a reindeer and for its care. She even did a school project devoted to reindeer care.
Robin talked with reindeer owners, found a vet, and continued working to raise money for them. Since reindeer must live in pairs, she had to get two reindeer. She raised the funds for one, and her father bought the second. The family welcomed Ruby and Moon.
That was more than eleven years ago, and now the herd has grown to eight through both acquisition and new births. Jane and her husband, Doug, both used to work full-time and run tours on the side. However, Jane now works at the ranch full-time.
How Running Reindeer Ranch Got Its Name
When the first two reindeer came home, Jane’s daughter spent all of her free time in the pen with them and even slept with them. When the first snowfall hit, she decided to go indoors. The reindeer got out—perhaps seeking their former home, and it was a four-day process trying to get them back!
Not many people owned reindeer, so people knew whom to call when they were spotted around town. Jane and her family would go to get them, and they would run away. They did manage to get them back home, and Running Reindeer Ranch was named.
The Reindeer Herd at Running Reindeer Ranch
The herd of eight reindeer includes Buttercup, Jasper, Rocket, Sapphire, Toby, Margarita, Olive, and Daisy.
Olive and Daisy are breeding females that go to a nearby farm in September for “date night,” as all the males are fixed in the herd. It makes it safer for the people who visit the ranch, as breeding time or rutting season can be hazardous as the males can be quite aggressive.
Sapphire and Toby are the babies. Rocket is a sweet guy who gets picked on a bit by the others and can often be seen running off. Olive and Jasper are a bit bossy and are generally the herd’s leaders.
How to Tell Who’s the Boss
The hierarchy of reindeer is based on the size of their antlers. The herd boss is the one with the largest, most impressive antlers. This will change throughout the year as their antlers naturally shed annually, then grow back.
Jane has a collection of her reindeer’s first antlers on display like a proud mom. They are covered with highly vascularized velvet (soft fur) during the summer and are very soft. Their antlers grow in only three months, from May to August. They are very sensitive at this time and should not be touched.
Rutting (breeding) season runs from September to December, at which time the males lose their antlers. Then, a female typically becomes the boss of the herd. In February or March, the females lose their antlers when the daylight is extended.
Pregnant females keep their antlers, which gives them better access to the food supply, and they drop their antlers two days to two weeks after the calf is born. An interesting fact shared is that the baby must eat within two hours, or it will die.
When the reindeer don’t follow the rules for appropriate behavior around people, their antlers are cut. No antlers, no attitude. This is done when they are not sensitive so it doesn’t hurt them, but it does impact their behavior.
Rocket had his antlers cut as he was misbehaving around people, and now he gets picked on by the others. His antlers will grow back next year, and Jane hopes that he will make better decisions so he can keep his antlers.
Your Visit to Running Reindeer Ranch
It’s a nice drive on the west side of Fairbanks through a gorgeous pine forest to get to the ranch, and it’s easy to find. We arrived a few minutes early and were warmly greeted and brought inside.
They have a good amount of gear (including boots, gloves, and scarves) if what you bring isn’t warm enough. Hint: unless you live in the far north areas of the country, it won’t be!
The reindeer live inside a fenced area that actually has two fences. There is an inside fence to keep them in and an 8-foot fence to keep them safe from moose. Moose can jump up to 6 feet in the air!
Because they are considered livestock, fencing is required by the government, and there are periodic inspections to ensure the reindeer’s safety and compliance with the law.
The reindeer are trained, but visitors are asked to support the training and reinforce their good behavior. Before we met the reindeer, we were given some instructions.
Reindeer are really cute and generally quite sweet. These reindeer are well-socialized and curious about people. It’s fun to walk among them and to get to know their personalities a bit.
Rules for Safety
- Always approach from the side with your hands down
- Don’t touch their antlers.
- If one of the reindeer runs to you, let them by. They aren’t attacking, but they may see something interesting, or maybe (especially in Rocket’s case!) they are being chased by one of the others.
- If they start up with another reindeer with their antlers up, then back away, and if they really start going at it, clear the area. They won’t pay as much attention to where people are as they usually would, and others will get involved to take sides and referee. Jane said it doesn’t happen often, but it can.
- If you see a moose, stop and be very quiet, as they can be aggressive. If it charges, get a tree between you and the moose.
Our visit was wonderful and we didn’t have any issues. Sure, it can be a little unnerving having a reindeer run at you at full throttle, but if you simply step out of their way, they go right on by. They kept us in great company during our walk in the woods, and we got to take lots of pictures with them and of them.
Interesting Facts
It was so much fun to spend time with this herd of reindeer and learn more about them. Especially since I really knew nothing previously. Here are some of the interesting things we learned about reindeer on the tour:
- Reindeer have no teeth on the top of their jaw and small teeth on the bottom, so there is no toothy grin like you see with Sven in Frozen.
- They don’t kick (like horses sometimes do) as their eyes are on the side, and they have great peripheral vision.
- Reindeer walk like a herd and prefer to be together. They do actually herd each other to stay together.
- To guide them, you can poke them in the butt to keep moving. They may do the same to you as well.
- Reindeer live 13 – 15 years. However, an intact male bull doesn’t often live past eight as they don’t get enough food when they lose their antlers.
The ranch isn’t only about reindeer! There is a gorgeous and very sweet husky dog named Garnet. His job is to guard the yard and keep the reindeer safe.
He does have a dog house where he often stays, though he is allowed inside as well. Garnet did come inside with us for a bit for petting and belly rubs.
Why Running Reindeer Ranch is a Top Thing to Do in Fairbanks
Running Reindeer Ranch may be the #2 thing to do in Fairbanks, according to TripAdvisor, but it’s number one in my book! It was so much fun to learn about reindeer and to get to meet and hang out with the herd. Where else can you do that?
We went for a short walk and learned all about the reindeer. Amazingly, our time at the ranch passed very quickly, and this desert dweller did not freeze to death!
The reindeer may not fly through the air, even on special holidays, but they really are incredible animals. Getting to know them and their hilarious personalities was a lot of fun.
This is a special activity not available in many parts of the United States and well worth going. And if you need more incentive, the chocolate chip cookies were really good!
Running Reindeer Ranch is located at 1470 Ivans Alley, Fairbanks, AK 99709. Tours are generally offered once daily, and the time may vary based on the time of year. They last for 2.5 hours and cost between $70 and $110, depending on the time of year.
You May Also Like Top 21 Things to do in Fairbanks: The Ultimate Winter Guide
There are so many fun things to do in Fairbanks, Alaska in the winter. This includes not only visiting the Reindeer Ranch but also viewing the northern lights, if you are lucky, and dog sledding.
You Might Also Like
- Dog Sledding in Alaska—A Top Thing to Do in Fairbanks
- Planning for a Northern Lights Vacation in Fairbanks
- Chasing the Aurora—Northern Lights Trip in Fairbanks
- Top 21 Things to Do in Fairbanks—The Ultimate Winter Guide
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