Apparently public intoxication is a reason for police to intervene with animals as well as humans. German police recently found a drunk owl out in public and took in the animal, saying it would be released once it has sobered up.

A spokesman for the Pforzheim police reported to Spiegel Online that "a woman walking her dog alerted the police after seeing the bird sitting by the side of the road oblivious to passing traffic." When police found the brown owl, it was staggering around with drooping eyelids. As further evidence of the owl's drunkenness, two small bottles of Schnapps were found near the bird.

The police took the owl to a local expert who has treated "alcoholized birds" in the past. This bird is being given plenty of water, and will be free to go when sober.

This is certainly not the first time that an animal has been caught in a drunken escapade. There was the badger who got so drunk on overripe cherries that he staggered into the middle of a road in Germany. Then there are the wallabies who get so high on opium poppies that they can't hop straight. Not to mention the monkeys who steal cocktails from tourists, the elephants who tragically killed three people in a drunken rampage, or the boozing buffalo who likes to hit the dance floor.

As for the owl who's about to experience a killer hangover, we just hope nobody leaves anymore alcohol lying around for him to have a hoot with.

