French Cops to Drivers: It's Drunk Deer Season

Drivers in France are being told to watch out for a different kind of drunk on the roads: deer. The Saône-et-Loire Gendarmerie in the Burgundy region has warned that at this time of year, deer and other wildlife can stagger into traffic after snacking on fermented fruit, buds, or rotting plants and becoming inebriated, reports UPI. In a video police shared on social media, a deer is seen spinning around and moving erratically—behavior police say can translate to "totally unpredictable" actions near roadways

Motorists are urged to be alert for animals that might dart out suddenly, weave across lanes, freeze on the asphalt, or flee in chaotic fashion. "If Bambi has had a bit too much of that forest aperitif, now might not be the best time to drive as if you own the road," police wrote. The New York Times reports that people who commented on the deer video shared their own anecdotes and said it happens all over France. "Roe deer absolutely love the buds of the alder buckthorn (shrubs typically found in hedgerows) and here is the result," one person wrote. "They end up 'drunk,' 'wasted,' and so on."