Top 10 Animals that are Known to Get Drunk or High

Ha! Turns out humans aren't the only ones who like to get blasted.

This list is about animals that have been observed or documented getting drunk or high from various substances.

The Top Ten

  1. Monkeys

    Monkeys are haplorhine primates that form a paraphyletic group. Most monkeys have tails and are distinct from apes. There are more than 260 known living species of monkeys.

    They are divided into two groups: New World monkeys, or platyrrhines, found in Central and South America, and Old World monkeys... read more

    There are a few ways monkeys have been documented getting high or drunk. One is by passing around a millipede like a joint. The millipede secretes a toxin that they rub on their faces to ward off parasites and also to catch a buzz.

    They have also been documented purposely getting drunk off fermented sugarcane.

    It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that monkeys get drunk or high. I am a little surprised, however, that you can get high from a millipede.

  2. Dolphins

    A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (brackish water dolphins), and the extinct Lipotidae (baiji or Chinese river dolphin... read more

    Although pufferfish toxin can kill, it is known to have hallucinogenic effects in small doses. Dolphins have been documented passing around a pufferfish, much like a joint, and nibbling on it to obtain the mind-altering toxin.

    After "getting high," the dolphins are observed "spacing out" in a state of euphoria.

  3. Bighorn Sheep

    Angry drunks!

    "Wild bighorn sheep in the Canadian Rockies go to great lengths to find a rare narcotic lichen that grows in green and yellow patches on uncovered rock surfaces. After scraping the rock with their teeth to remove and eat the substance, they appear ill or somewhat mad."

  4. Elephants

    African elephants are elephants of the genus Loxodonta. The genus consists of two extant species: the African bush elephant, Loxodonta africana, and the smaller African forest elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis. They are the largest land animals on Earth and are native to various habitats across Africa.

    Elephants are known to get "drunk" from fermenting fruit from Marula trees. However, scientists have concluded that the fermented fruit wouldn't be enough to get the elephants "drunk," so they believe another intoxicant is at play.

    Elephants have also been documented stealing beer from human settlements.

  5. Wallabies

    Wallabies have been observed being "high as a kite," stumbling around and hopping in circles after feeding in local poppy fields.

  6. Bears

    Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or dog-like carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, inhabiting a wide variety of environments across the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern Hemisphere. Bears are... read more

    In Russia, bears have been observed removing lids from barrels of fuel (used for generators, snowmobiles, etc.) and huffing the fumes to get high. After catching their buzz, they just lie on their backs in the snow, acting all goofy and giddy.

  7. Parrots

    Parrots, also known as psittacines, comprise approximately 402 species of birds within the order Psittaciformes, including 387 extant species. These birds are found predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. They are known for their bright plumage, intelligence, and ability to... read more

    In northern Australia, parrots are known to consume fermented fruit and end up so drunk that they pass out while in flight and drop to the ground.

  8. Reindeer

    The reindeer, known as the caribou in North America, is a species of deer with a wide circumpolar distribution. It inhabits Arctic, sub-Arctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions across northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Reindeer populations can be either sedentary or migratory, depending... read more

    Have been known to consume hallucinogenic mushrooms. After consuming, they just stand there "spaced out."

  9. Jaguars

    The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus Panthera that is native to the Americas. It is the largest cat in the Americas and the third largest cat species in the world, behind only tigers and lions.... read more

    In the Amazon, jaguars have been observed gnawing on the bark of the hallucinogenic Yage vine. After consuming it, the jaguars are known to "act very strangely."

  10. Cats

    The cat (Felis catus) is a domesticated small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the Felidae family and is commonly called the domestic cat to distinguish it from wild felines.

    Cats can be house pets, farm cats, or feral. They are often valued for companionship and for... read more

    I think we all know this one. Cats are known to rub and chew catnip, which creates a euphoric high for them.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Seagulls

  12. ?

    Gorillas

    Gorillas are herbivorous, predominantly ground-dwelling great apes that inhabit the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla, and either four or five subspecies. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of... read more

    13. The Contenders

  13. Cattle

    Cattle (Bos taurus) are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved herbivores. They are a prominent member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. Adult females are referred to as cows, while adult males are called bulls... read more

  14. Bats

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