
The Deep Relationship of the Sami and Reindeer
Clip: Episode 2 | 3m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
Margret Fjellström and her reindeer depend on dwindling lichen-rich forests for survival.
Margret Fjellström and her family are indigenous Sami reindeer herders, relying on their herds for generations. During harsh winters, where temperatures can drop below -40 degrees Fahrenheit, the reindeer depend on energy-rich lichen.
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The Deep Relationship of the Sami and Reindeer
Clip: Episode 2 | 3m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
Margret Fjellström and her family are indigenous Sami reindeer herders, relying on their herds for generations. During harsh winters, where temperatures can drop below -40 degrees Fahrenheit, the reindeer depend on energy-rich lichen.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipMargret Fjellström is an indigenous Sami reindeer herder.
Her family have depended on the reindeer for generations.
"The reindeer provide me food," "it provides clothes," "but it also provides me a" "contact with the nature," "with my ancestors and my future."
"It'’’s who I am " Margret must keep her herds alive through harsh winters where temperatures can plummet close to -40 F It'’’s essential the reindeer get energy rich food, particularly the pregnant females ...and to find it, they must seek out the Heartlands'’’ oldest forests.
Margret and her family use snowmobiles, steering the herds up to 30 miles a day, to the best grazing spots.
The reindeer need help from the Sami, as their traditional migration routes are often blocked by roads, towns and wind farms.
"The infrastructure of the land has changed" " so we need to guide the reindeers" "around and find safe places for them."
On their journey, the herds pass through new growth plantations, but these areas have little nutritious food to offer them.
It'’’s the forests with trees over 100 years old that have what they desperately need lichen.
During the winters they make up 80% of the reindeers' diet.
They eat a dozen different varieties.
With their excellent sense of smell, reindeer can detect them three feet beneath the snow.
Video has Closed Captions
Male black grouse fight it out over mating rights at a lek in Norway. (3m 43s)
Video has Closed Captions
Lynx, wolf and reindeer survive through surprising alliances in the Scandinavian forest. (30s)
Learning the Bear Necessities of Life
Video has Closed Captions
A brown bear mother keeps an eye on her cubs as they learn how to climb away from danger. (3m 1s)
Video has Closed Captions
The sounds generated by skating over black ice are out of this world. (3m 2s)
Wolves Close In On a Bear's Lunch
Video has Closed Captions
A male brown bear is interrupted from feasting on a reindeer carcass by a pack of wolves. (2m 36s)
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