Oregon Health & Science University Fights Court Ruling to Pay PETA for Concealing Drunk Vole Infidelity Research Footage

An appeal by the Oregon Health and Science University, ordered to pay more than $400,000 to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for using drunk voles in a sex experiment, was heard in the Oregon Court of Appeals yesterday (Monday).

The appeal dates to a 2023 ruling in the Multnomah County Circuit Court that found in favor of PETA, ordering the university to pay costs and fees incurred by the organization for violating Oregon Public Records Law.

The offense related to OHSU withholding videos of the experiment from PETA.

The experiment studied the impact of alcohol on infidelity. Prairie voles were fed the equivalent of 15 bottles of wine daily and then subjected to tests involving partner preferences before being put to death and dissected.