Seagulls from England's south coast are becoming 'drunk' on Flying Ants, causing them to stumble into traffic around coastal towns like Lowestoft and Aldeburgh. The leading theory is formic acid, which is released by flying ants as a chemical defense when threatened, causing the birds to become woozy and unsteady. This has led to warnings from ornithologists and wildlife charities, including Dr. Viola Ross-Smith of the British Trust for Ornithology. An alternative explanation is that the gulls are so focused on the food source that they don't notice traffic. Wildlife charities suggest leaving out water nearby to help the birds recover faster. The formic Acid effects are temporary, and most gulls will recover once they stop eating.