do male reindeer shed their antlers

Male reindeer shed their antlers each winter, just like females do. The process is called "antler casting", and it happens during the winter months when male reindeer are in their antlerless phase. The antlers are made of a material called keratin, which is the same material that makes up our fingernails and hair. Over the course of several months, the antlers slowly degrade and fall off, leaving the reindeer without any antlers. This is a natural part of the reindeer life cycle, and it is essential for them to shed their antlers to grow new ones.