"Like A Deer in the Headlights"

I've heard this expression all my life, but only just experienced the real thing  last night.  I was going 45 on an unlit road and, suddenly, there he/she was.  That deer looked pretty surprised and just stood there for a few seconds, but finally turned and meandered off the road.

I guess that is why Idaho drivers don't dim their brights--at least 75% of them. (There's also elk and free range cattle to worry about hitting.) I was driving home from Boise last evening in the dark and found it quite annoying.  Especially when you're on a curvy mountain road.  When you're curving left and the opposing driver doesn't dim his brights, you can't even see the white line on the right side of the road.

I finally solved this problem by letting the guy behind me (with his headlights and fog lights on bright) pass me by and then I just maintained an even following distance behind him.  His lights were bright enough for the both of us and whenever an opposing driver didn't dim his brights, I could still see the brake lights of the car in front of me.

Ironically, I didn't see any wildlife on the highway.  It was only when I returned to Cascade that I saw deer.  In town.  And on that 45 mph road to one of Cascade's outlying neighborhoods.

Here's a few pictures of the town deer in our yard and the neighbor's yard on Wednesday morning after a 3 inch snowfall when they were looking for something to eat.  The leaves in our strawberry patch seemed to be the thing.  These pictures were taken out our dining room window.