Drunk birds are causing havoc in a Minnesota town. Police say they'll sober up soon.

[MoonRiver]

Police in Gilbert, Minn., are warning residents about a group of youthful residents unable to handle their alcohol. They’ve been drifting around town looking disoriented, narrowly avoiding getting hit by cars.

But these aren’t teenagers getting drunk. Instead, it’s the local bird population.

“The Gilbert Police Department has received several reports of birds that appear to be ‘under the influence’ flying into windows, cars and acting confused,” Police Chief Ty Techar wrote in a statement Tuesday. An early frost meant that berries had fermented earlier than usual, he explained, and birds were eating them and getting drunk.

Incidents around town involving intoxicated birds appear to be more prevalent than in past years, Techar added, because many have not yet migrated south. “It appears that some birds are getting a little more ‘tipsy’ than normal,” he wrote. “Generally, younger birds’ livers cannot handle the toxins as efficiently as more mature birds.”

He concluded: “There is no need to call law enforcement about these birds as they should sober up within a short period of time.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/10/04/drunk-birds-are-causing-havoc-in-a-minnesota-town-police-say-theyll-sober-up-soon/?elq=a5dbb9320a1644dc9590f2fcfbd0ed69&elqCampaignId=9854&elqTrackId=6bbfb3be631942b68e747ea01b1c0580&elqaid=20841&elqat=1&noredirect=on&utm_term=.dc707901d4f1

[Freestate_MD]

1. I remember hearing of this phenomenon

years ago. It's most curious and a nice diversion from today's hell. I may need a few berries myself.

[MoonRiver]

2. Lol, I know what you mean!

Angry birds can become happy with a few berries!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I've seen this.

We used to have a crabapple tree and a mountain ash tree. Birds, mostly cedar waxwings, would eat the crabapples and the berries and then flop around drunkenly for awhile until they sobered up and flew away.

[smirkymonkey]

4. Unlike the drunk squirrels, who just stick around until they hibernate for the season.

[meow2u3]

5. In the comments section:

What’re the differences between these birds and Brett Kavanaugh?

Kavanaugh can’t fly, and there are no accounts of the birds attempting to rape anyone.

But they do have one thing in common:

None of them is qualified to serve as a judge.