Drunk Canadian Birds Get Sober
- 10 years ago
A recent frost has caused the berries Bohemian waxwings eat to ferment, which brings upon intoxication and other troubles to the birds, so a wildlife organization is helping them sober up.
While other birds are flying to warmer weather for the upcoming winter months, the Bohemian waxwings are taking advantage of Canada's berries.
The problem is the fruit is intoxicating them.
A recent frost in the Yukon has caused mountain ash berries, a waxwing favorite, to ferment.
After consuming the berries the birds become drunk, and have a difficult time controlling themselves while in-flight and avoiding obstacles.
Several have died or been injured after flying into windows and walls.
The animal health unit of Environment Yukon, an organization that oversees nature and wildlife in the territory, has started a drunk tanks of sorts for the birds.
Any birds exhibiting signs of intoxication are put into a hamster cage to prevent them from harming themselves.
They're given some time to sober up and are then released back into the wild.
If a bird requires more help, they're transferred to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve for avian rehab.
A 2012 study found waxwings have a larger-than-normal liver, allowing a higher tolerance of fermented berries.
Eventually even their livers become overwhelmed with ethanol from the fruit, and they become drunk.
This generally happens every year in the Yukon during November and December.
While other birds are flying to warmer weather for the upcoming winter months, the Bohemian waxwings are taking advantage of Canada's berries.
The problem is the fruit is intoxicating them.
A recent frost in the Yukon has caused mountain ash berries, a waxwing favorite, to ferment.
After consuming the berries the birds become drunk, and have a difficult time controlling themselves while in-flight and avoiding obstacles.
Several have died or been injured after flying into windows and walls.
The animal health unit of Environment Yukon, an organization that oversees nature and wildlife in the territory, has started a drunk tanks of sorts for the birds.
Any birds exhibiting signs of intoxication are put into a hamster cage to prevent them from harming themselves.
They're given some time to sober up and are then released back into the wild.
If a bird requires more help, they're transferred to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve for avian rehab.
A 2012 study found waxwings have a larger-than-normal liver, allowing a higher tolerance of fermented berries.
Eventually even their livers become overwhelmed with ethanol from the fruit, and they become drunk.
This generally happens every year in the Yukon during November and December.