It isn’t Santa who’s coming to Secaucus bringing his reindeer – it’s Captain Reindeer.
"At least that’s what my wife calls me," said Dirk Milz, whose farm in Holland Township, New Jersey, has been handling reindeer for about four years, and bringing them to Secaucus for the annual tree lighting ceremony. Milz will be bringing two of his herd of 12 to Secaucus on Dec. 8, when kids will be able to view them.
Milz, who is originally from Germany, has raised exotic animals on the Edelweiss Farm for about 30 years.
This 60-acre farm does not provide public shows, but on occasion, Milz and his wife, Pat, will rent out the creatures for what he calls "educational purposes."
"We get different requests for different animals from time to time," Milz said, noting that his farm carries numerous animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, highland cattle, royal yaks, miniature donkeys, llamas, and phoenix foxes.
Milz is very careful as to whom he rents the animals, saying that he take special pride in his herds and would never put them at risk.
He moved to New Jersey and set up his farm in the early 1970s because he loved farm life.
"We have about 90 animals," he said.
This sometimes poses real challenges because different animals have different needs, he said. The reindeer require slightly different rations from other animals on the farm.
"We also have to change their water frequently and keep them super clean," Milz said.
The state also requires certain things for reindeer care such as an eight-foot high fence around their corral. At dusk, the reindeer run around the farm’s pasture, often leaping into the air.
Here they are
The reindeer is a hoofed animal related to the kind of deer typical to New Jersey and which drivers often see grazing at the roadside. Reindeer, however, have adapted to arctic and sub-arctic conditions.
"In the summer we have to keep them in the shade," Milz said. "We also have fans for them."
Reindeer also have broader hooves than those found locally. This allows them to walk on the snow and dig down to get buried food. They often click their hooves in the dark or fog, sending messages to others in their herd as to their location.
Another difference, Milz said, is that male and female reindeer both have antlers. While in the wild, males use these in conflict and females use them to defend their calves. Milz said his reindeer are tame and easily handled. On his farm, Milz often walks among the herd and uses a leash on them to convey them from place to place.
"No other kind of deer has antlers for its males and females," he said.
For Dec. 8 Christmas tree lighting in Secaucus, Milz said he is bringing two of the herd north via horse trailer. He said he would set up a pen in Secaucus where people can view them easily. Christmas season, he said, is busy, and demand for the reindeer is high during the month of December.
"We get calls from people all over who would like to have a reindeer at their Christmas parties," Milz said.
He noted that the brown and spotted reindeer he is bringing are appropriately named Blitzen and Dancer.