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Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

Posted July 29, 2008 8:41 AM

From Scientific American:

Stories abound about animals who have taken a nip--or 10. In 2004, Reuters reported that a black bear had passed out at the Baker Lake Resort in Washington State after binging on beer. Last October the Associated Press recounted a tale of six Indian elephants stumbling around and uprooting a utility pole, electrocuting themselves, after guzzling a homemade rice brew in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. Even Charles Darwin noted in The Descent of Man that monkeys have a "strong taste" for "spirituous liquors" and beer.Still, there is scant scientific evidence proving that animals go on benders with the naturally occurring alcohol in fermenting fruit. Quite the contrary: the few studies done seemed to indicate they had either no interest or a distinct aversion to it. But new research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that at least a few creatures in the wilds of the Malaysian rainforest like to drink the hard stuff.

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#1

Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/29/2008 12:03 PM

Back many years ago:

Had a friend that I learned "Home Brew Beer" from. When we got together over the weekend and hoisted a pint, he would put a bowl down for thwe dog to share. He lapped it up each and every time. Then he would and lay down over the heater vent on his back and fill the room with the smell of dog.

Same dog would have a bowl and sing with us in the wee hours of the morning.

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#2
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Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/29/2008 9:04 PM

Fact, me thinks.

www.metacafe.com/watch/90957/drunk_animals

My wife found this years ago--I didn't believe her until I saw it for myself. This is a mere piece of the program. Really interesting.

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#7
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Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/30/2008 12:24 PM

I have watched animals had a feast at the wild fruit without getting drunk. Fact it that the fruit will disintegrate before it can produce enough alcohol to send a animal staggering. The staggering animals may have been darted for medical attention - exactly the same behaviour.

Domestic animals however can be taught bad habits. I have seen a dog sucking at the exhaust of a car for some lead fumes.

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#3

Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/29/2008 11:21 PM

Hey, we humans like to get drunk, and as Jim Toomey noted in Sherman's Lagoon, we're nothing more than large hairless beach apes. Why should it be so strange that other animals enjoy getting plastered too?

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#4

Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/30/2008 4:34 AM

A couple of years back we had a glut of plums...
There was this BIG Hornet gorging himself on the rotting fruit...he was smashed...couldn't walk straight.
I kept well away incase he started lookin' fer a fight (or wanted to be my best mate...)

Del

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#5

Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/30/2008 8:23 AM

Not all animules are alike. Had a Peek-a-Poo that loved beer. Have a Dachshund that won't touch a drop (Go figure a Chinese-French dog that loved beer and a German dog that won't drink it. Maybe I should try him on German beer?)

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#6

Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/30/2008 11:11 AM

Domestic animals tend to take after their owners (nothing personal, all), as anecdotal evidence generously proves. In the wild, I have observed cedar waxwings consume fermented mulberries to the point of being unable to fly, indeed literally falling off their perches. The less-drunk of the birds would dive-bomb any approaching cats to protect their fallen comarades. (Sorry, Dell, TANSTAFFL)

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#8
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Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/30/2008 6:31 PM

Hendrik--I am a huge skeptic on a lot of things, but not this fruit tree/drunk animal video. It has been a while, but I watched the entire program and if your claim is that the entire population of animals there were tranquilized simultaneously is a stretch--But I will see if I can find it again and prove you right. My wife had told me about it(the program) and it took about five years before I found it being broadcasted and saw it for myself.

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#9
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Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/31/2008 2:47 AM

Hi Kilgore Trout

I only watched the clip and not the full version..

Some Years ago a film maker in SA produced a feature film (I think it was called Beautiful People) with the same or similar scene was included. The clips on that film were not taken on the same day and not even at the same location.

If you ever have tried editing a film or video you would know how easy it is to create any impression.

The fruit (Marula) don't ferment while it is on the tree, I have seen animals eat those without any staggering or getting drunk. I also have eaten a lot and did not get drunk (hick ).

It is definitely not that easy to produce alcohol.

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#10
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Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

07/31/2008 3:51 PM

And I have observed cedar waxwings consuming fermented apples with the same result. Guess they're the bad boys of the bird world!

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#11

Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

08/01/2008 5:47 AM

We used to feed our pigs on the farm stale beer.

Although it was stale and warm, the pigs scoffed it greedily.

If you've never seen drunken pigs, it's not a pretty sight, as they act belligerently, similar to drunken people.

Kind Regards....

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#12
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Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

08/01/2008 6:06 AM

You let beer go stale?!? That's alcohol abuse! Oh, the shame of it all...

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#13
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Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

08/01/2008 6:12 AM

Hello EnviroMan

I became sensitized (allergic) to alcohol at an early age.

My share was given to the pigs.

Kind Regards....

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#14
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Re: Fact or Fiction: Animals Like to Get Drunk

08/01/2008 7:36 AM

Pretty good share to be able to share with the shoats, eh?!? At least it didn't go to waste (or waist)...

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