Q: I’ve heard that birds can become intoxicated by feeding on Brazilian peppertree fruit. Is this true?
A: This is difficult to say. There is no experimental evidence, but only anecdotal observations. Like many other plants, BP fruits contain sugars which can ferment as the fruit ages. Fermentation will result in the production of alcohol. If a bird ate a lot of over-ripe BP fruits, they could conceivably become intoxicated. However, this would not be unique to Brazilian peppertree. Fruits of other plants could also contain alcohol and therefore intoxicate birds.
