Authorities in France are warning motorists to stay alert after unusual animal behaviour linked to fermented vegetation began creating road safety concerns in parts of the country, according to an advisory issued by the Gendarmerie de Saône-et-Loire, a police authority based in the Burgundy region of central-eastern France. As per the advisory, several wild animals, particularly deer, are showing signs of intoxication after consuming naturally fermented fruits, buds, and decaying plant matter during the spring season.
Police Release Videos of Erratic Deer
The alert came into limelight after the law enforcement agency released videos on their Facebook page showing a deer acting erratically in an open field. In the videos, the animal could be seen spinning round and round, falling off balance, collapsing, and attempting to stabilize itself before moving on. The animal's erratic behavior is thought to have been caused by consumption of the fermented seasonal fruits since it produces ethanol through the natural decaying process of fruits and vegetation.
Advisory to Motorists
In its alert to motorists, the police agency advised drivers passing through rural areas to slow down and exercise caution around forests and farms, and not swerve suddenly when animals come into view in order to minimize chances of a road accident, particularly at dawn and dusk. On their official page on Facebook, the department shared (translated), “Hey now, ladies and gentlemen… not every road user is sober. The proof is right here in this video. In spring, some wild animals consume buds, fermented fruits, or decaying vegetation… and may behave in completely unpredictable ways. The danger: sudden crossings, erratic movement, stopping in the middle of the road, or panicked running. And where there’s danger, there can be consequences: a collision can happen very quickly, especially at night or on secondary roads. So slow down, stay alert, avoid sudden swerving, and be extra cautious in wooded areas. If Bambi has gone a little too hard on the forest aperitif, maybe it’s not the best time to drive as though the entire road belongs to you, right?”
Spring Season and Animal Behaviour
A number of commentators argued that such cases are actually not uncommon during the spring season, especially in regions where deer can be seen feeding on new sprouts, berries, and hedgerow plants. Certain shrubs and plants found in the forests have been known to undergo fermentation in particular weather conditions, but there have been questions raised about how the environment itself, pesticides, and farm chemicals might be affecting the animals' behavior. It is not clear what happened to the deer that was captured in the video.
Wildlife Road Safety in Rural Europe
However, the case has certainly drawn more attention to wildlife road safety in rural Europe. There are thousands of car crashes in Europe each year due to animal crossings, which usually involve deer and wild boars. In France, authorities are urging drivers who venture into rural roads, vineyards, and forests to drive with extra care especially during the spring and summer months.
