Humans are the only species known to deliberately produce and consume alcohol at scale, but they are far from the only animals that end up intoxicated in nature. Across the animal kingdom, fermentation happens naturally in fruit and plant matter, and that can sometimes lead to wildlife consuming food that has already started producing ethanol.
According to BroBible, evidence from archaeology suggests humans have been making alcohol for more than 13,000 years. That estimate comes from stone containers discovered in Israel, which are believed to have once held an early form of beer, showing how long people have been experimenting with fermentation.
Even so, humans likely encountered alcohol long before organized production began. Alcohol is created when yeast breaks down sugars into ethanol, a natural process that occurs whenever fruits or grains ferment. Over time, humans learned to refine and commercialize it, but the same process continues in the wild without any human involvement.
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Deers Got Apparently Drunk
That natural fermentation can create unusual situations for animals that unknowingly eat overripe or decaying food. In some cases, wildlife can become noticeably affected after consuming fruit that has started to ferment, leading to behavior that resembles intoxication.
One recent example comes from France, where local authorities have warned drivers to be cautious of deer that may have become impaired after eating fermented fruit. Officials in one region even issued an alert after reports of animals acting erratically near roadways.
Researchers have also observed similar behavior in other parts of the world. A study published last year suggested that chimpanzees in Africa may consume the equivalent of about 2.5 alcoholic drinks per day through fermented fruit that makes up part of their natural diet.
Other cases have been documented as well, including incidents involving moose in Scandinavia. In one well-known situation in Sweden in 2011, a moose reportedly became stuck in a tree after eating fermented apples. In another incident years later, a group of intoxicated moose was reported to have caused disruption by blocking a man from entering his home in Stockholm.
In France, the issue has recently drawn renewed attention in the Saône-et-Loire department. Local police have warned motorists to stay alert for deer that may have consumed what they described as a “forest aperitif,” referring to fermented fruits or decaying plants found in wooded areas.
Authorities also shared video footage as an example of what this behavior might look like. The clip reportedly shows a deer moving in an unsteady and disoriented manner, spinning around in a field, which officials say illustrates the kind of risk drivers could encounter if animals are affected near roads.
While the warnings are serious, there is still limited scientific research on what happens to wildlife after such encounters fully resolve. It is not clear whether animals experience anything similar to a hangover, or whether they simply recover after the effects of fermentation wear off naturally.
Published: May 14, 2026 03:00 pm