Let’s go back in time about a few hundred million years. You’re a plant. And you’re a plant that’s been evolving alongside microorganisms, fungi and animals. Come to find out, everyone finds you particularly tasty. You naturally don’t like being eaten, but you’re a plant and you can’t just walk away. So what can you do against all these predators? You could modify your leaves into thorns or equip them with tiny, irritating hairs, but maybe you decide to go a different route and develop chemical toxins to deter your opponent. Perhaps upon ingesting this toxin, insects find you instantly deadly, perhaps small mammals find themselves immobilized and disoriented by your effects and learn to leave you alone, but perhaps early hominids find a way to carefully dose your toxins and use them for medicine or even recreation.

That’s the topic of my conversation today with Dr. Oné R. Pagán and his latest book, Drunk Flies and Stoned Dolphins: A Trip Through the World of Animal Intoxication. We’ll discuss how naturally occurring compounds in our environment been used and abused (both intentionally and unintentionally) by members of the animal kingdom. We’ll learn about cigarette wielding birds, LSD induced elephants and big cats crazy for catnip. As always, we’d love to hear from you about this episode, so leave us a review and follow us on social media @earthtohumanspod.

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