Thinking of tossing your post-Halloween pumpkins in a natural area? It’s harmful and illegal, says ERCA

Some Windsor-Essex residents may think their old jack-o'-lanterns make a tasty post-Halloween treat for wildlife, but the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) says dumping pumpkins in natural areas does more harm than good.

A social media campaign, which started around 2020, encouraged people to discard their pumpkins in natural areas for animals to eat.

But according to Danielle Stuebing of the conservation authority, well-meaning pumpkin piles can disrupt the delicate ecosystem.

"Pumpkins could be moldy. If wildlife ingested that, it could make them sick. Their systems aren't used to eating these kinds of things," she said.

“Nature provides everything that wildlife in these areas need, so introducing something like pumpkins, which wouldn’t naturally be in their diet, could be harmful to them."

Pumpkins don’t just disrupt local diets. They can also sprout in unexpected places.

“If pumpkin seeds lay dormant and then start sprouting, this beautiful natural area could unexpectedly turn into a pumpkin patch, which is not what’s intended in these native Carolinian woodlots," Stuebing said.

Two pumpkins are spotted in the woods of Devonwood Conservation Area on Nov. 5, 2024. (Sanjay Maru/CTV News Windsor)ERCA doesn’t just discourage people from leaving their pumpkins in conservation areas.

Officials say it’s against the law.

“Dumping anything in conservation areas is illegal and can also encourage others to dump additional,” said Stuebing, adding it requires ERCA staff to step away from their work to clean up the mess.

That doesn’t mean there are no instances when pumpkins should be fed to animals.

According to Dr. Ameer Ebrahim of the Cabana at Howard Pet Hospital, pumpkin needs to be prepared the correct way.

"If it is cooked, then it would actually be a very good source of fibre and is very beneficial to their gastrointestinal tract," said Ebrahim.

He added it's also safe to feed animals boiled or baked pumpkin — anything to break down its raw fiber.

However, the nature of feeding raw pumpkin to an animal, he added, is made all the more dangerous if there are contaminants on it.

"There could be a marker on it. People also do some painting to these pumpkins," said Ebrahim. "All that could cause issues to these pets that happen to be eating that raw pumpkin.

As for Stuebing, she said there are private farms and wildlife sanctuaries, where animals are more accustomed to being fed by humans, which will welcome used pumpkins.

"Some municipalities also have post-Halloween pumpkin parades that welcome used jack-o'-lanterns."

The best way to help local ecosystems, she added, is to leave them as undisturbed as possible.

"You can also compost your pumpkin if you have a green cone composter or digester in your backyard," said Stuebing.

"Alternatively, put it out with your yard waste."