Wild Scandinavia

Margret Fjellstrm is an indigenous Sami reindeer herder.

Her family have depended on the reindeer for generations.

"The reindeer provide me food," "it provides clothes," "but it also provides me a" "contact with the nature," "with my ancestors and my future."

"It's who I am " Margret must keep her herds alive through harsh winters where temperatures can plummet close to -40 F It's essential the reindeer get energy rich food, particularly the pregnant females ...and to find it, they must seek out the Heartlands' oldest forests.

Margret and her family use snowmobiles, steering the herds up to 30 miles a day, to the best grazing spots.

The reindeer need help from the Sami, as their traditional migration routes are often blocked by roads, towns and wind farms.

"The infrastructure of the land has changed" " so we need to guide the reindeers" "around and find safe places for them."

On their journey, the herds pass through new growth plantations, but these areas have little nutritious food to offer them.

It's the forests with trees over 100 years old that have what they desperately need lichen.

During the winters they make up 80% of the reindeers' diet.

They eat a dozen different varieties.

With their excellent sense of smell, reindeer can detect them three feet beneath the snow.