The warning initially sounds like a quirky slow-news item. But in the French region of Saône-et-Loire the police and authorities are taking the matter extremely seriously. The gendarmerie is currently urging drivers to be particularly careful — because of apparently “drunk” deer moving about disoriented on roads and at forest edges.
In fact the unusual warning is based on a perfectly natural phenomenon. In woods, orchard meadows and rural areas many fruits are currently falling to the ground. Apples, pears or plums begin to ferment after a few days, especially in mild temperatures and damp conditions. Alcohol is produced in the process — not in large quantities, but apparently enough to throw wild animals off balance.
Anyone who has walked past an old orchard in autumn knows the sweet, heavy smell of fermented fruit. For deer, however, the stuff seems to be quite intoxicating.
Several drivers reported in recent days animals that suddenly ran onto roadways, stood motionless at the roadside, or changed direction uncontrollably. The local gendarmerie describes the behavior as unpredictable. Especially in the early morning hours or at dusk this significantly increases the risk of serious collisions with wildlife.
And the figures behind it are anything but harmless. Every year there are several thousand collisions in France between vehicles and wild animals. Especially frequently involved: deer. They react quickly, often leap onto the road without warning and are hard to predict. If an animal is also disoriented by fermented fruit, the risk rises noticeably again.
Authorities therefore recommend driving more slowly in wooded areas and taking wildlife crossing signs seriously. High beams can help to spot animals early — provided oncoming traffic allows it. At the same time, emergency services warn against jerking the wheel to avoid suddenly appearing wildlife. A hasty steering maneuver often ends up more dangerous than the collision itself.
But behind the curious story lies a broader context. Experts have been observing for years that encounters between wildlife and human infrastructure are increasing. Forests more and more often border directly on residential areas or major roads. At the same time, milder temperatures and longer growing seasons are changing the behavior of many species. Nature is moving closer to people — sometimes literally onto the hood of a car.
On social networks the gendarmerie’s warning spread rapidly. Comments about “party nights” of Burgundy’s deer or “animal wine tastings” were not long in coming. A bit of village-pub humor apparently belongs with it.
But the officers make it clear: a confused wild animal is no joke. Not for drivers, nor for the animals themselves. The unusual warning is therefore intended above all to prevent one thing — that a quirky story suddenly becomes a serious accident.
By C. Hatty
🇫🇷🦌🍓 FLASH | Des “cerfs ivres” ont été repérés en France. La police appelle les automobilistes des zones rurales à la PRUDENCE après plusieurs signalements d'animaux sauvages au comportement erratique, causé par la consommation de fruits fermentés. Il est recommandé de les… pic.twitter.com/RXslXZ0BIH
— Cerfia (@CerfiaFR) May 13, 2026