Virginia’s state veterinarians have approved the annual special permit for Santa Claus’s reindeer to travel through Virginia on Christmas Eve. This tradition involves coordination between the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), which are responsible for regulating animal movement into the state and managing wildlife, respectively.
Importing or possessing members of the deer family in Virginia is generally prohibited without a DWR permit. Each December, VDACS State Veterinarian Dr. Charlie Broaddus and DWR State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. John Tracey collaborate to issue a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection that allows Santa’s nine flying reindeer to enter the Commonwealth for toy delivery.
Dr. Broaddus presented this year’s certificate to Santa Claus at Santa’s Village during the Illuminate Light Show at Meadow Event Park in Doswell, home of the State Fair of Virginia.
“Santa’s reindeer look healthy and ready to deliver joy to children across the Commonwealth this Christmas Eve,” said Dr. Charlie Broaddus, VDACS State Veterinarian. “I appreciate Santa’s due diligence in getting his reindeer checked so that we can protect animal health and agriculture in our state. We hope Santa and the reindeer enjoy fresh Virginia milk, Virginia grown carrots, and maybe some Virginia’s Finest eggnog while they are traveling through.”
“While nothing is more exciting than a flying reindeer visit, the DWR permit required to import and possess members of the deer family within the Commonwealth is so important to protect Virginia’s wild white-tailed deer and elk herds,” said Dr. John Tracey, DWR Wildlife Veterinarian. “We thank Santa for being an excellent partner with DWR and VDACS, and we are always glad to see the care and attention he gives to the health of each and every reindeer. We are of course looking forward to this year’s visit, as always.”
Ruminant animals like deer must carry identification noted on their veterinary inspection certificates, such as ear tags from state or federal authorities. This identification enables tracing in case of disease outbreaks among animals in Virginia.
With all paperwork completed, officials say Santa’s sleigh will be able to enter Virginia without issues on December 24.
Photos and video from Dr. Broaddus presenting the certificate are available on VDACS’ website.
