Wildlife charities are urging U.K. motorists to give disoriented gulls space during the annual flying ant season
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NEED TO KNOW
- Seagulls in parts of the U.K. have been seen stumbling onto roads during flying ant season
- Experts say formic acid from the ants gulls eat may contribute, though distraction while feeding is another leading theory
- Wildlife charities are urging motorists to slow down and give affected ant-hungry birds space
Seagulls are turning heads along England’s coastline as they stagger through streets and wander into traffic during the annual flying ant season.
According to Vice, coastal communities, including Lowestoft and Aldeburgh in Suffolk, have reported seeing the birds stumbling across streets and lingering in roads after feasting on swarms of flying ants that have emerged earlier than usual due to back-to-back heatwaves.
Wildlife charities believe the birds’ unusual behavior may be linked to the insects’ natural chemical defenses.
During flying ant season, gulls can consume hundreds of ants in a single feeding frenzy, according to Sompting Wildlife Rescue. The organization explained to the outlet that the insects release formic acid as a defense mechanism. However, for the birds, eating large quantities may leave them appearing “disoriented” or “drunk.”
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“In small amounts, it’s harmless,” a spokesperson for Sompting Wildlife Rescue (SWR) confirmed, “but when gulls gobble down a feast of ants, it can cause them to appear disoriented or drunk, stumbling around and struggling to fly properly.”
The rescue group warned that the behavior makes gulls especially vulnerable near busy roads, adding, “If you see a gull behaving strangely by the roadside, please slow down and give them space — they might just need a little time to recover.”
However, experts say the formic acid explanation remains only a hypothesis.
Dr. Viola Ross-Smith of the British Trust for Ornithology hypothesized that the chemical affects gulls “as ethanol affects us.” However, Ross-Smith also proposed that the drunk-seeming birds may simply have been so focused on the abundance of food that they ignored their surroundings, including approaching vehicles.
That alternative explanation was echoed by BBC Science Focus, which noted that while many ant species produce formic acid that can be toxic to birds, the black garden ants commonly seen during Britain’s flying ant season produce only small amounts. The publication noted that many experts believe gulls are more likely to be distracted by feeding opportunities than intoxicated by the ants.
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Flying ant season typically peaks around mid-July, when winged queens and males emerge to mate and establish new colonies. Wildlife organizations say most affected birds recover naturally once they stop feeding. Experts recommend giving them space and, if possible, leaving out fresh water while allowing them time to recover.
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