PHOENIX — With Halloween only a few days away, many houses have been decked out with carved pumpkins sitting right outside their door. These pumpkins can attract javelina and other wildlife.
A ripened pumpkin sitting outdoors is like candy for javelina,” “Pumpkins and other edible decorations are easy meals for wildlife and often attract javelina, coyotes, deer and even bears. Habituating wildlife to human food sources can lead to property damage and potential conflicts that could result in serious injuries to people or pets.”
It is recommended that people keep their carved pumpkins inside, or place them in high out of reach areas outside.
Feeding wildlife is a crime because it can make a public safety hazard when the animals become aggressive if they are unable to get a meal.
It’s best to keep the decorations outside inedible to avoid all unwanted contact with wildlife.
