When I was younger, storms were more scary. A big reason was because we raised cattle, and the cattle would be out in the storm. Every time I'd see an intense flash of light and feel the walls shake I'd be afraid it had struck some livestock. We never lost more than one at a time, but we had known some people who had lost most of a herd with one strike.
Think of cattle pastures. Many of them are relatively flat with relatively few trees. Now, think about where cattle gather in the heat and rain. Yup, under those trees. Now, think about how many trees you've that have been blown apart by lighting. Cattle aren't the smartest creatures in the world. I'd say they're about even with Canadians.
The worst catastrophe I'd hear of was a bunch of cattle standing along a fence line. Barbed wire is metal, and conducts electricity well. I guess you can imagine what it would do to a bunch of cows standing along a fence line.