Halloween is a time of spooky decorations, but you may want to reconsider leaving your carved pumpkins on your doorstep, especially if you live in Banff or Canmore.
A pumpkin left on your doorstep is like a donut left on your coffee table; it demands to be eaten! Bears, in particular, are looking for any source of calories to help them prepare for winter sleep, and pumpkins are a great source of carbs!
So, leaving your pumpkins outside is like an all-day buffet for local bears.
The Problem with Pumpkins on Doorsteps
In Canmore, where fruit-bearing trees like mountain ash and crabapple are common in residential areas, bears are already venturing into town to forage for free meals.
“Pumpkins are a wildlife attractant to all sorts of animals, not just bears, and we all need to do our best to avoid attracting wildlife into residential areas,” says Nick de Ruyter, program director of Bow Valley WildSmart.
Recent bear sightings in Canmore confirm that bears are still coming into town for food, leading officials to urge residents to limit outdoor attractants such as pumpkins.
The Town of Canmore has already implemented a Fruit Tree Removal Incentive Program to mitigate bear-human conflicts. While this program helps reduce the number of fruit trees, Halloween pumpkins on doorsteps can undo some of this progress. A bear’s sense of smell is powerful enough to detect pumpkins from a great distance, and a pumpkin on a doorstep could be an irresistible temptation.
Leaving pumpkins outside could ultimately endanger both bears and residents. A bear lured into town faces a higher likelihood of relocation or even euthanasia, especially if it returns repeatedly. The sad reality is that two bears in Canmore were euthanized this past summer after coming into town searching for food sources like crabapples.
Halloween Pumpkin Donations for a Good Cause
While it’s essential to keep pumpkins out of the reach of wildlife, there’s a silver lining for those who want to use their post-Halloween pumpkins in a way that benefits local animals.
Wildlife rehabilitation facilities like the Cochrane Ecological Institute are more than happy to accept pumpkin donations. These facilities care for animals like moose, deer, and bison and welcome unpainted, wax-free pumpkin donations. They provide a nutritious snack to wildlife in need, especially during the colder months when food can be scarce.
Donating your used pumpkin rather than discarding it is a simple but effective way to contribute to wildlife care.
The Cochrane Ecological Institute, located on 160 acres of prairie and forest, provides essential care for animals to return them to the wild. Donating a pumpkin here isn’t just environmentally friendly—it directly supports the survival and rehabilitation of local wildlife.
Tips for a Wildlife-Friendly Halloween
For a Halloween that’s mindful of local wildlife, here are a few tips Canmore residents can follow:
- Keep pumpkins inside until Halloween night – Display them indoors, in a window, where they’re visible but out of reach of wildlife.
- Bring pumpkins back inside after Halloween night – This reduces the likelihood of nocturnal wildlife getting too close to your home in search of a snack.
- Donate your pumpkin – Take your unpainted, wax-free pumpkins to a wildlife rehabilitation center like the Cochrane Ecological Institute. Your donation could help feed a rescued animal.
- Consider the Fruit Tree Removal Program—If you have fruit trees, consider Canmore’s removal incentive program. Removing attractants could prevent bears from entering the town and facing potential danger.
Halloween decorations can bring joy to people of all ages, but it’s essential to remember our responsibility to keep local wildlife safe. By making small changes, such as keeping pumpkins indoors, donating them after the holiday, and removing fruit trees, Canmore residents can protect both their homes and their wild neighbours, helping ensure that Halloween remains a safe time for everyone.
