Spring in the French countryside brings warm weather and a strange danger on the roads. Police are warning drivers to watch out for animals that have eaten fermented fruit. These animals can become intoxicated, like humans, and act unpredictably.
The police in Saône-et-Loire shared a video of a small deer that was stumbling and could not balance. They explained that the deer was drunk after eating fermented fruit. The police used this video to give a serious safety message: "Not all road users are sober." They advised drivers to be careful, especially in wooded areas, because animals might be drunk.
This happens because when the weather gets warmer, fruit and plants start to ferment. This process creates alcohol. When animals eat this spoiled food, they become drunk. This causes them to lose coordination and judgment. A drunk deer might run into the road suddenly or freeze in the middle of the street. This creates a real danger for drivers.
The police advise drivers to slow down and be ready for animals to move unexpectedly. They also say not to steer sharply if an animal appears, as this can cause accidents. The warning is especially important at night or on small, dark roads. The video shared by the police became very popular online and was seen by millions of people around the world. Interestingly, the video was actually filmed in a different part of France, the Gers region, not Saône-et-Loire. However, the warning about drunk wildlife is still important for all of rural France during the spring.