Nature Photographer Anton Freyr Birgisson Hides Behind Rock as 400 Wild Reindeer Charge in Northern Iceland

In a remote area of northern Iceland, nature photographer and Geo Travel Iceland wilderness guide Anton Freyr Birgisson captured footage on his iPhone of a herd of roughly 400 wild reindeer charging toward him, forcing him to take cover behind a rock. Birgisson had accompanied local hunters solely to observe and photograph the animals, maintaining distance so as not to disturb them. The herd unexpectedly turned downwind and moved in his direction, behavior he described as unusual because the animals were spooked yet remained calm. From behind the rock, he continued filming; a reindeer calf approached closely and smelled him. He noted the herd was beautiful and that reindeer in Iceland are wild, typically spotted from afar. Hunting is regulated by Iceland's government because the reindeer have no natural predators. Through Geo Travel Iceland, Birgisson leads small-group adventures in North Iceland using snowmobiles, UTVs, Super Jeeps, or walking, with outings to find reindeer and birds for photographers. He aims to raise awareness of travel opportunities and adventures in North Iceland, where birding is also popular. More information is available on Geo Travel Iceland's Instagram and website. The encounter was reported by PetaPixel on September 18, 2026.