BLOOMINGTON - Female reindeer don't face on-the-job discrimination and are actually preferred for the job of pulling Santa's sleigh, according to one zookeeper.

Carol Pagluica of the Miller Park Zoo explained Sunday that Ealu, one of the zoo's two female reindeer, has fully grown antlers unlike male reindeer, who don't have antlers in the winter unless they are neutered.

Several families watched Sunday as Pagluica tested Ealu to see whether she's fit to help pull Santa's sleigh as part of the zoo's "Can Reindeer Fly?" series.

Local radio personalities Joe Blaney and Brandy Hansen read from a list of 11 tasks and watched as Ealu successfully performed each of them. Her first task was to wear a necklace of bells, something she did without difficulty.

After Blaney's 8-year-old son Matthew pulled the necklace from a bucket, Pagluica placed it around Ealu's neck.

"This probably seems easy, but reindeer are prey animals, so a lot of things spook them," Pagluica said.

Ealu successfully stood still, a skill necessary for when she'd have to wait on roofs while Santa drops off toys. She also walked backwards after being guided by Pagluica.

"They can't see behind them, so they don't know what's there, and it's scary," she said.

When Ealu was asked to move around an obstacle course, she ran on a leash held by Pagluica, maneuvering around several trees, leaving hoof prints in the newly fallen snow.

But task No. 6 - to not mind being touched by humans - was difficult for Ealu, who hesitated to approach the children trying to pet her until relaxing under the hand of Landon Gotschall, 11, of Normal.

However, Joe Blaney was skeptical that Ealu needs to allow herself to be touched to help Santa.

"I wonder about the job requirement because kids are supposed to be asleep when she hits the roof," Blaney said.

Blaney also had a good guess as to why the reindeer may not be up for a petting.

"Maybe she's a little uptight. Maybe she doesn't have all of her Christmas shopping done," he said.

Regardless, Ealu wasn't scared when Brianna Croft, 4, of Normal pet her. Brianna has a dog named Ella at home, and her father, Eric, said she is "good with animals."

Missing on Christmas Eve

Brianna Eickhoff, a zookeeper who helped to train Ealu for the demonstration, said she begins teaching her the exercises a month in advance of the public test.

"She'll be ready when Santa needs her," Eickhoff said.

This was the second year Ealu was tested for sleigh-pulling aptitude. She passed last year's test and, according to Pagluica, was missing from the zoo last year on Christmas Eve.

"I have come to the zoo late at night on Christmas Eve, and Ealu was nowhere to be found," said Pagluica.

Ealu will get a letter from Santa at 2 p.m. Dec. 23 letting her know whether her services will be needed this year.