When you see that chevreuil at the roadside you are never quite sure what it will do - dash into the road or off into the fields. It seems that at this time of year they eat so many succulent buds which contain fermentable sap that it can turn to alcohol. This has the usual effect and since deer have no concept of consuming "in moderation" they can become disorientated and lose their innate fear of vehicles.
Hitting a deer at night is relatively common, but drunken deer are about in the daytime too and drivers are well advised to keep a sharp eye out for beasts.
