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THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021
Spreading holiday cheer with reindeer
By SIERRA DAWN
McCLAIN
Capital Press
Cindy Murdoch, 65,
owner of Timberview Farm,
stretched out her hand.
“C’mere, silly,” she said.
A reindeer wearing a red
and green halter bearing
the name “Comet” in white
lettering stepped forward,
allowing Murdoch to stroke
its antlers.
When the average Amer-
ican thinks of reindeer, said
Murdoch, they think of
Santa Claus. Reindeer have
been synonymous with
Christmas since Clement C.
Moore penned his famous
poem, “A Visit from Saint
Nicholas,” in 1823.
According to Michelle
Dennehy, Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife
spokeswoman, this is Ore-
gon’s only permitted rein-
deer operation, a farm with
nine licensed reindeer.
Because of the folklore
surrounding fl ying reindeer,
Murdoch said people are
often surprised to learn that
reindeer are real.
“Some people think
they’re like unicorns,”
Murdoch said. “They think
they’re fairytale creatures.”
Experts say the spe-
cies, though not magical, is
remarkable.
The reindeer, a mem-
ber of the Cervidae family
of hoofed ruminant mam-
mals, is a circumpolar spe-
cies, meaning it lives in
countries all around the arc-
tic circle, according to the
Smithsonian Institution.
Reindeer have been
domesticated for millennia.
According to a 2021 study
in the Journal of Anthro-
pological
Archaeology,
“reindeer herding has been
culturally and economi-
cally important for many
peoples.”
The earliest known
domestication, according
to the journal, can be traced
to northern Fennoscandia
— northern Finland, Swe-
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press
Reindeer at Timberview Farm.
Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press
Cindy Murdoch, owner of Timberview Farm, talks to ‘Noel.’
den, Norway and northwest
Russia — circa 800 A.D.
For many cultures, reindeer
have served as an import-
ant source of meat, hide and
“draught” work, meaning
H
pulling carts or sleighs.
Today, the semi-nomadic
Dukha people of north-
ern Mongolia still rely on
domesticated reindeer for
milk, leather, transportation
and, occasionally, meat.
So, how did a herd of
reindeer end up in Oregon?
In the 1990s, Mur-
doch and her late husband
read an article on reindeer.
Delighted by the species,
they started a farm in 1999.
The couple began by
rescuing two reindeer and
later, through breeders,
added others.
Raising reindeer was a
learning curve. Murdoch
worked with Purina to
develop a special feed and
Oregon State University
veterinarians to understand
the species’ health needs.
“I wish people under-
stood more about the spe-
cies,” Murdoch said.
Both male and female
reindeer have velvety ant-
lers, which they shed and
regrow annually.
Each reindeer has its
own personality. “Dancer,”
one of Murdoch’s reindeer,
has even learned to play
“soccer.” Murdoch kicks
the ball; Dancer returns it
with her antlers.
Murdoch has turned
the operation into a busi-
ness. Throughout most of
the year, the reindeer wan-
der the barn or hillsides.
But during Christmastime,
they’re busy travelers. Mur-
doch takes the reindeer to
Christmas festivals, edu-
cational events and retail
stores, including Coastal
Farm & Ranch Supply.
According to Den-
nehy, Murdoch’s reindeer
must be transported under
strict requirements, ensur-
ing “safe and humane
treatment.”
Nevertheless, the farm
has faced opposition from
PETA, an animal rights
group. Due to PETA’s
recent eff orts to shut down
the farm, Murdoch no lon-
ger publishes her address.
Murdoch plans to con-
tinue growing her herd,
since Oregon no longer
allows importation of live
cervids, Murdoch is work-
ing with a veterinarian to
artifi cially inseminate her
females.
“I hope we get another
generation,” she said.
oliday Worship
Service
First Baptist Church
A place where you feel like family...come home.
Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service
6pm on December 24 th
Sunday Worship Services
10:45am
Our services are also LIVE
STREAMED on our FACEBOOK PAGE
at First Baptist Church of Astoria.
First Baptist combined english/
spanish speaking service with
Vida en Cristo
“32 And he shall be great, and shall be called
the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall
give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
~ Luke 1 32 -33
Rejoice in Jesus’ Birth
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service • 10pm
Christmas Day Worship Service • 10am
AT
Bethany Free Lutheran Church
451 34th Street • Astoria
Calvary Episcopal
Church
DECEMBER 24
9 pm - Holy Eucharist
DECEMBER 25
10 am - Holy Eucharist
(across from Safeway)
7th & Commercial, Astoria • (503) 325-1761
FOR MORE INFO CALL (503)325-2925
503 N. Holladay, Dr. • Seaside, OR
A Christmas Service
of Lessons and Carols
Friday
December 24 th
7 pm
First Presbyterian Church
1103 Grand Ave. · Astoria, Oregon