Residents leaving pumpkins out for animals are putting the wildlife in harm含羞草研究社檚 way.
Okanagan含羞草研究社檚 Nature Nut is concerned that Halloween leftovers left out as a 含羞草研究社榯reat含羞草研究社� for wildlife, are in fact 含羞草研究社榯ricking含羞草研究社� them.
含羞草研究社淲ildlife get their own food, water and shelter. That含羞草研究社檚 how they are wild,含羞草研究社� said Roseanne Van Ee. 含羞草研究社淲e domesticate them causing them to rely on us for food when we put out pumpkins or other human food.含羞草研究社�
She urges resident not to leave deer and raccoons pumpkins, which can also attract skunks, squirrels, rats, mice, bears, coyotes and insects.
含羞草研究社淲ildlife continually look for food and can lose their fear of humans when we feed them. Then, they may become aggressive if not fed as expected.含羞草研究社�
She points to local expert urban wildlife control specialist, Pete Wise, who has said: 含羞草研究社渨e create our own problems with nuisance wildlife含羞草研究社y leaving food and water out for them.含羞草研究社�
Animals remember where food is left out and will return. They are innocent and just following their own instincts to do what they need to survive.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 why you only take your compost and garbage out on the morning of collection and feed your pets indoors,含羞草研究社� said Van Ee.
The Nature Nut says pumpkins can instead be composted or used for human consumption, pumpkin custard being her favourite.
READ MORE: Leave the leaves alone: Okanagan含羞草研究社檚 Nature Nut
