Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Erin Luley, and PA Tourism Office Executive Director Kaitie Burger joined Santa Claus and his team of nine reindeer at Hersheypark Monday to announce that the reindeer received a clean bill of health from the Department of Agriculture, speeding them on their way to make special deliveries across Pennsylvania tonight.

“The magic that makes Santa’s reindeer fly is a secret we’ll never tell,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “But Pennsylvania’s young and young at heart can nestle snug in their beds knowing the reindeer are healthy and ready to take flight.”

Santa’s reindeer — Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, and Rudolph — received clearance to fly to Pennsylvania from Dr. Sarah Coburn, Alaska’s state veterinarian. Pennsylvania State Veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg and Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Erin Luley reviewed Alaska’s Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and declared the team healthy to fly from rooftop to rooftop in all 67 Pennsylvania counties for the purposes of toy delivery to the children of Pennsylvania. These certificates are required as an assurance that contagious diseases are not carried across state lines.

“Despite Rudolph’s shiny red nose and the team’s mysterious ability to fly,” Dr. Luley said, “Santa’s reindeer have received excellent care from Santa’s herd manager at the North Pole, and from Hersheypark’s team during their stay here, and they are up to the task of spreading joy, and only joy, across Pennsylvania.”