CASPER, Wyo. — On Tuesday, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department urged people to dispose of Halloween pumpkins rather than leave them out for wildlife to consume.
“While it may seem harmless to leave pumpkins out, it is in fact the opposite,” Game and Fish said. “Congregating animals around food sources can attract predators to the area.”
Foods not natural to a mule deer’s digestive system can also make them sick, Game and Fish added.
“This time of year we get many calls about sickly deer fawns and much of this can be attributed to these deer eating foods that offer little nutritional value and that they have a difficult time digesting,” Stan Harter, a Lander-based wildlife biologist with Game and Fish, said. “This makes them susceptible to parasites and other diseases.”
Some places in Wyoming have ordinances in place making it illegal to intentionally feed wildlife, Game and Fish noted. Whether or not there are laws in place, there are a range of things people can do to help protect wildlife in addition to throwing away pumpkins, Game and Fish said.
Other things people can do include:
• Pick up your hammocks, soccer nets, and tomato cages, and consider placing holiday lights out of reach.
• Keep your pets confined and/or on a leash and do not allow pets to chase wildlife. Keep your distance and give wildlife plenty of room.
• Slow down on roadways for migrating wildlife, especially at dawn and dusk. Plan for added time in your travels.
• If you have fences, make them wildlife-friendly and open gates wherever possible for easier wildlife movement. Game and Fish
