Somerset Reindeer Ranch is at the center of a heated licensing dispute with Somerset Council that could jeopardize the future of its animals. Sarah Sutton, the 51-year-old reindeer herder and owner, revealed she might have to cull her reindeer after the council ruled that the ranch requires a zoo licence to carry on operating.
The council’s ruling comes with a hefty £2,748 fee, which Sarah says has devastated her family business and “ruined Christmas.” The ranch, which has operated legally for over ten years under an Animal Activities Licence issued by Somerset Council, now faces what they consider an unfair burden.
In a statement released on Facebook on Friday, December 12, the ranch emphasized its compliance and the confusion around this new licensing requirement. “Defra has expressed the opinion that reindeer should be classified as wild animals for zoo licensing purposes, but this is only an opinion, not a change in law,” the statement clarified.
READ MORE: £5 Million Boost for Affordable Housing for Older Adults
READ MORE: Yeovil Town Gritty Win Over Maidstone United Seals FA Trophy Fourth Round Spot
All reindeer at the farm are locally bred and now in their fifth generation at the ranch. Sarah explained that the operation is a small, family-run enterprise primarily staffed by service personnel and their families. Alongside the reindeer, the farm also raises cows, pigs, horses, donkeys, alpacas, ducks, and chickens, functioning as a typical mixed agricultural environment.
Despite no formal complaints or investigations, Somerset Council insists on a full Zoo Licence—a system meant for large zoological parks rather than agricultural businesses. This requirement was triggered solely by a single public inquiry copied to the council.
Sarah challenges the logic behind the council’s stance: “Our reindeer are regarded as domestic livestock for birth, movement, breeding, and national registration purposes, yet are suddenly deemed wild animals just to justify an expensive licence.”
The ranch highlights the inconsistency of being treated as a livestock farm six days a week but as keepers of wild animals on the seventh, making it impossible to operate effectively.
Somerset Council responded by acknowledging the lengthy nature of obtaining a zoo licence and pledged to offer advice and support throughout the process.
The controversy has been further fueled by criticism from animal rights group Animal Aid, who condemned the ranch’s use of live reindeer at a recent Christmas lights event in Wincanton. Animal Aid’s Campaign Manager, Isobel McNally, argued that young reindeer, as sensitive herd animals, should not be removed from their groups for public display.
In response, the ranch defended their animals’ wellbeing, stating that the reindeer were calm, well-travelled, and showed no signs of distress during the event.
As the licensing battle unfolds, the future of Somerset Reindeer Ranch—and its iconic animals—remains uncertain amid mounting legal and financial pressures.