all 49 comments

[–]NoahtheRed 13 points14 points ago

My understanding is that this was actually intentional. In the northern parts of Scandinavia, farmers allow their herds to free range on farms that are frequently bisected by roads. During the wintertime, due to the hazardous conditions, it's not uncommon for careless motorists to hit their reindeer by accident. As a sort of warning, some farmers will put the frozen corpses up as a reminder to motorists that they are entering an area where they may encounter their reindeer. The corpse would have been put up "whole" and periodically scavenged by carrion birds or wolves during warmer days...leaving examples like this.

I'm not 100% on this and may be entirely incorrect, however it stands as a better explanation than it froze to death standing up. Reindeer have survived for 1000s of years in this environment. It's unlikely it would have frozen to death. In the unlikely event that it did though, it'd most certainly do so on the ground after slowly becoming weaker and weaker.

[–]Niqulaz 6 points7 points ago

Pretty close.

It's not as much "farming", as it is "owning a herd of reindeer and giving a fuck about it every two weeks or so while they free-range".

Reindeer are stupid as fuck. As an added bonus, their colouration serves as camouflage in wintery conditions. These mouthbreathers of the deer-family habitually suicide-attack cars and trailers and trains all the time. During winters, they are infamous for seeking shelter in tunnels where available.

[–]ilpopi 3 points4 points ago

Also if the road is salted they like to come and lick it.

[–]AbnormalCorpse 0 points1 point ago

while I am sure that could be what happens in some parts it is not in this picture. I recognize this being posted on something like r/wtf a while back, basically a reindeer froze to death on the side of the road and was partially eaten while in said state.

[–]LaughKookaburra 35 points36 points ago

"And I thought they smelled bad . . . on the outside."

[–]red_square_dont_care 4 points5 points ago

Is this a reference to something?

[–]drthtater 6 points7 points ago

Empire Strikes Back.

I don't know why people are downvoting you for asking a question.

[–]Cocomunky 5 points6 points ago

Probably because they missed a reference to Star Wars, and that is unacceptable to them.

[–]red_square_dont_care 2 points3 points ago

Thanks. And I guess that's just the Reddit way.

[–]glassuser -1 points0 points ago

Welcome to the new reddit! Now shut the fuck up!

[–]PandaK00sh 2 points3 points ago

Indiana Jones said this in one of his older flicks: The Phantom Menace.

[–]zombiebarbie 0 points1 point ago

Please go watch Empire Strikes Back!!! Please! We want you to because we care!

[–]red_square_dont_care 0 points1 point ago

Yeah to be fair, after Drthtater posted that it was the Empire Strikes Back I immediately got the reference. I just wasn't able to make the leap on my own.

I appreciate your concern though!

[–]zombiebarbie 1 point2 points ago

Phew. I was really worried that you were lacking ESB in your life. I am relieved to hear this news.

[–]funfungiguy 1 point2 points ago

FUN FACT: Luke should never have been able to survive that night inside of the body of a tauntaun. The cold night temperatures of Hoth (-72F), coupled with the rate of cooling of a human experiencing hypothermia, coupled with being stuffed into a reptomammal that had already died of hypothermia, says that Luke should have been frozen into a block of ice more solid than Han in Carbonite.

[–]flex0r 19 points20 points ago

Coldhands must really be pissed he lost his elk.

[–]AlisterDX 2 points3 points ago

It sucks to be the one guy that doesn't get the reference...

[–]Poyoya 2 points3 points ago

I'm that one guy. :(

[–]AlisterDX 1 point2 points ago

As am I, but I'm too lazy (and a little scared) to look up who coldhands is... Is sounds like it could be from a creepypasta

Edit: My guess was way off. Coldhands

[–]CuriositySphere 0 points1 point ago

Back to Youtube with you, please.

[–]AlisterDX 1 point2 points ago

I take offense to that. I never have been and never intend to be a frequent visitor to YouTube. My comment was merely an indirect request for someone to provide a backstory.

[–]Marenum 1 point2 points ago

I think this was taken moments before the elk was reanimated, Coldhands is probably in that white van that's approaching.

[–]KingContext 4 points5 points ago

Coldhands drives a white van. It is known.

[–]mutantratking 2 points3 points ago

Just so.

[–]lordcarnage 0 points1 point ago

You know nothing Marenum

[–]msandapanda 4 points5 points ago

What exactly happened to this deer? Is it alive, or did it just die standing up, then freeze that way? Either way, bash its brains in.

[–]glassuser 13 points14 points ago

It died standing up, and froze in that position. rising and falling snow levels allowed scavengers to get at the higher bits, but not the lower.

[–]Cocomunky 4 points5 points ago

It would seem that it died mid-blizzard, and froze standing up somehow. maybe it leaned against a pile of snow or something? Either way, I would have been pretty fucking scared being that close.

[–]piranhasaurusTex 5 points6 points ago

That should totally go in r/wtf...I'm just saying

[–]Ryugi 7 points8 points ago

It's been there four times now in the last year.

[–]piranhasaurusTex 0 points1 point ago

OK but I've only been on Reddit for about 4 months. There's no way I would've seen it.

[–]Ryugi 0 points1 point ago

Shrugs It is easy to check.

[–]gemcitytiffany 1 point2 points ago

I saw it there a while back.

[–]piranhasaurusTex 1 point2 points ago

And rightly so!

[–]XxMagicChickxX 2 points3 points ago

Totally reminds me of Game of Thrones.....

[–]R3MY 0 points1 point ago

Rebel Blood?

[–]Kevbren 0 points1 point ago

what the fuck...

[–]KingContext 1 point2 points ago

Wow, an elk froze standing up (probably in deep snow) and got eaten over time by scavengers. Amazing photo. Yellowstone?

[–]Corporal_Sissypants 1 point2 points ago

No, my dear sir/sirlette, This is a reindeer. And if I do remember correctly, this is in Norway.

Edit: I was thinking of this one, http://www.an.no/nyheter/article6022199.ece, but I found a larger version of OP's image, and based on the green color of the cars registration number, and the signs along the road, I have concluded that it is in fact Norway.

[–]KingContext 1 point2 points ago

Thank you sir(lette). I therefore knight thee!

[–]ndtcssh 0 points1 point ago

KILL IT WITH FIRE

[–]SaphiraArach -1 points0 points ago

Cool pic, but this needs a gore warning, please.