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We're talking snakes here, and another animals that aren't really sentient. They aren't microdosing themselves with poison or setting fires.



I know sentience is an abused word, but for almost any of its practical definitions that's a false statement.

Sentience is the ability for subjective experience, which applies to any of the animals being discussed here. If you're thinking of something like self-awareness (a totally separate quality), you're probably correct. But that has nothing to do with the ability to learn.


I think the author of the comment you're replying to conflated sentience with sapience.


Since we're discussing snakes, wouldn't that be 'serpience'?


Those actions can still be done unintentionally. For example, a particular kind of snake can prefer to eat some particular kind of fruit when they are young, which also happens to be the favourite plant for a cane toad to rub on to get rid of itchy bottoms.


Perhaps you mean sapient. Snakes and other animals are definitely sentient.


https://pickle.nine.com.au/2018/01/10/08/46/australian-birds...

There are sources for addiction regarding animals on the web. Its quite interesting what horses and goats do for some weeds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River_toad#Drug_use_o...

The war on Horse-Drugs should have priority. Give the DEAs some hoes to whack out the danger.


Pretty cool link on the Colorado River toad. Apparently raccoons use the same strategy as these crows, turning the toad over on its back and eating the belly.




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