Reindeer bill of health: Santa Claus has his elves working overtime prepping for Christmas, and the big man himself is busy making sure the reindeer are healthy for their annual flight.

Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and Pennsylvania State Veterinarian Dr. Kevin Brightbill joined Santa Claus and his nine reindeer at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane Thursday to announce that they have received a clean bill of health and are cleared for take-off on Dec. 24.

“Not everyone knows what takes place behind the scenes to allow Santa and his nine reindeer to take flight on Christmas Eve,” said Agriculture Secretary Redding. “Thanks to Dr. Brightbill, his counterpart in the North Pole, and Santa’s due diligence, we can expect gifts under the tree Christmas morning.”

The reindeer, answering to the names of Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, and Rudolph received clearance to fly to Pennsylvania from Dr. Robert F. Gerlach, Alaska’s state veterinarian.

This Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Permit to Ship allows them to fly from rooftop to rooftop in PA for the purpose of toy delivery.

“I’m grateful to Dr. Gerlach for his inspection of these reindeer,” said Dr. Brightbill, Pennsylvania’s state veterinarian. “According to their certificates, despite one’s glaringly red nose and their magical ability to fly, word is that they’re in extraordinary health!”

Such certificates are required as an assurance that contagious diseases are not carried across state lines. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture veterinarians supply these certifications for animals residing in PA before they’re transported across state lines.

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Track Santa: The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America. NORAD offers a fun way to track Santa on Christmas Eve.

The website, www.noradsanta.org, launched Dec. 1, and a Facebook page, titled Norad Tracks Santa, is live in preparation.

Updates on Santa’s progress are posted regularly on Dec 24, including photos of the staff who are festively dressed for the occasion and photos of where Santa is as his trip progresses.

The website also offers music, movies and games to help entertain children before bed on Christmas Eve — or before then.