when do reindeer shed their antlers

Hello! Reindeer are unusual because, unlike other deer species, both males and females grow antlers. Typically, male reindeer shed their antlers in November, after the mating season, while females usually shed their antlers in the spring.

The process of shedding antlers usually occurs for regeneration, protection, and dominance display. When the mating season is over, there's no further need for males to impress the females or battle other males, therefore they shed their antlers. On the other side, females keep their antlers till spring as a means of protecting their food in the snowy conditions.

Antlers are among the fastest-growing tissue in the animal kingdom. In reindeer, a new set of antlers starts to grow almost immediately after the old ones are shed. During the peak growth period, it's estimated they can grow up to an inch a day.