Can You Just Leave Pumpkins Out for the Wildlife to Eat?

Halloween is over, and yesterday as I was walking the dog in the rain, I noticed that there are several people in my neighborhood who have pumpkins sitting outside.  Where else would they be, right?  But what are you supposed to do with them?

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH LEFT OVER HALLOWEEN PUMPKINS

There are a few options.  You can compost the pumpkins.  That is probably the answer for most people.  If you live near a wooded area, it might be very tempting to drop them in the woods.  However, in Minnesota, that is illegal.  Why?

From the DNR:

To prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), the Minnesota DNR strictly prohibits placing fruits, vegetables, grains, or other food that can attract deer in 37 specific counties. Because deer love pumpkins, leaving a pumpkin on the ground in these areas violates the ban.

Some of those counties do include  Sherburne, Wright, Stearns-adjacent areas (like Meeker and McLeod).

There is an exception - like there is with most things.  You can leave pumpkins in the backyard for birds and small animals to eat.  But keep them at least 6 feet off the ground so it's harder for the deer to get them.  Deer LOVE pumpkins, so with that said, it is completely illegal to bait them with pumpkins for hunting purposes.

SOME OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT THE PUMPKINS AND WILDLIFE

Never feed animals pumpkins that have been painted, glued, glittered, or treated with  chemical or bleach-based sprays. Paint and synthetic decorations are toxic if ingested.

Do not leave out decayed, slimy, or moldy pumpkins, as they can harbor harmful bacteria and spread disease among wildlife.

One more option would be to donate those pumpkins to an area zoo.

Whatever you decide to do, time to move on to another holiday, and remove those pumpkins from your front steps.  Especially if they are all moldy and decayed.  Gross.

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