A Lightning Strike Killed 323 Reindeer In A Terrifying Act Of Nature

Norwegian Environment Agency

If you don't quite understand the destructive power of mother nature, then you will soon. Over the weekend, more than 300 reindeer were killed by lightning during a storm in Norway. Knut Nylend, of the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate, discovered the herd in a remote part of a private hunting area. 
"We’ve heard about animals being struck by lightning and killed, but I don’t remember hearing about lightning killing animals on this scale before," Nylend told the Norwegian News Agency. "We don’t know if it was one or more lighting strikes; that would only be speculation."

Nylend believes that so many of the animals were killed because they huddle together when spooked. He says that  "they may have gathered even closer together out of fear," during the thunderstorm.

The Norwegian Environment Agency said in a statement that they had sent staff to take samples from the animals. Around 70 of the dead reindeer were calves, a further five had to be euthanized because of their injuries.

BNO News notes that the deadliest single lightning strike involving cattle occurred in 2005, when 68 cows were killed. But it looks like that record is about to be broken.