Halloween decorations may be a seasonal tradition, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife is warning residents that some decorations and displays can create serious problems for wildlife.
With human-bear conflicts reaching historic levels in Colorado this year, CPW is asking residents to keep pumpkins and other potential food sources away from wildlife. The agency says pumpkins left outside can attract bears, deer, raccoons and other animals.
CPW recommends bringing pumpkins indoors and displaying them in windows. Any pumpkins placed outside should be brought inside before going to bed and kept indoors during the day.
Pumpkins Can Attract Bears
Bears remain highly active throughout much of October as they continue preparing for winter. During hyperphagia, bears can consume as many as 20,000 calories per day while spending more than 20 hours each day searching for food.
CPW has already seen bears eating pumpkins in front yards and even outside grocery stores. Pumpkins provide bears with calories, fiber, minerals and vitamins, making them an attractive food source. Officials warn that bears that learn to associate homes with food can become increasingly comfortable around people and may eventually attempt to enter homes.
Pumpkins can also attract other wildlife. Deer feeding on pumpkins may draw mountain lions into residential areas, while raccoons can be attracted to rotting pumpkins and potentially spread disease.
Halloween Decorations Can Entangle Wildlife
CPW is also warning residents to consider wildlife when putting up Halloween decorations. Deer, elk and moose can become entangled in artificial spider webs, holiday lights and other decorations. Animals caught in decorations can suffer stress, exhaustion and injuries that may ultimately prove fatal.
CPW recommends placing holiday lights and decorations more than six feet above the ground or securing them tightly to buildings and trees. Low-hanging decorations and artificial webs draped loosely over vegetation can easily become tangled in antlers.
Residents should never attempt to free an entangled animal themselves. Stressed wildlife can behave aggressively, while hooves and antlers can cause serious injuries.
After Halloween, residents can look for local pumpkin drop-off programs, livestock donation opportunities or other appropriate disposal options. Painted pumpkins and pumpkins containing melted wax should not be donated as animal feed.