Deer in the headlights. Photo by Bert Dennison.
Mule deer are beginning their yearly migration from the mountains to the foothills after the recent storm dusted the Sierra Nevada with the season’s first snow. Drivers are advised to use caution especially the first few hours before and after dawn and sunset when deer actively move in search of food and water.
A good size buck can weigh several hundred pounds and not only do major damage to your vehicle but can also cause you to lose control and leave the roadway or veer into opposing traffic which is far more dangerous than hitting the deer initially.
Deer commonly winter along Highway 140 from the Merced county line and into Yosemite Valley. Please do not feed or approach deer. They have been known to gore people.