Just A Question For Montana, Please Don’t Yell At Me

Montana is known for a lot of things. Obviously, the mountains, skiing, snowboarding, MSU (GO CATS), and National Parks, you get it. But one thing I am very confused about is the street lights. No, I am not talking about the traffic lights, I understand those, although, with out-of-state plates, some may think I do not.

I am talking about the street lights on the side streets. Or the lack of street lights for that matter. I was driving home the other day from grabbing some groceries and there was a deer literally standing in the middle of the street. I didn't see it until it was basically right in front of my car. This same thing happened a week or so ago with a man crossing the street (no he didn't have the "walk signal") it was 5 am, dark out, and he was wearing dark clothes. I almost hit him.

I know, "how did you not see it/him". Well, I'll tell you why I didn't see it/him. There are hardly any street lights. I have never seen such a thing. When you get off of any main road you are basically in pitch dark, with the exception of a house or two with a porch light on.

So my question is, is this a Bozeman thing? Or a Montana thing? I just find it so odd. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I dislike it, it makes it very easy to sleep when no lights are shining in my bedroom windows and the stars in the big sky are amazing, but it is a bit odd.