Residents leaving pumpkins out for animals are putting the wildlife in harmsa国际传媒檚 way.
Okanagansa国际传媒檚 Nature Nut is concerned that Halloween leftovers left out as a sa国际传媒榯reatsa国际传媒� for wildlife, are in fact sa国际传媒榯rickingsa国际传媒� them.
sa国际传媒淲ildlife get their own food, water and shelter. Thatsa国际传媒檚 how they are wild,sa国际传媒� said Roseanne Van Ee. sa国际传媒淲e domesticate them causing them to rely on us for food when we put out pumpkins or other human food.sa国际传媒�
She urges resident not to leave deer and raccoons pumpkins, which can also attract skunks, squirrels, rats, mice, bears, coyotes and insects.
sa国际传媒淲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.sa国际传媒�
She points to local expert urban wildlife control specialist, Pete Wise, who has said: sa国际传媒渨e create our own problems with nuisance wildlifesa国际传媒y leaving food and water out for them.sa国际传媒�
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.
sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 why you only take your compost and garbage out on the morning of collection and feed your pets indoors,sa国际传媒� 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: Okanagansa国际传媒檚 Nature Nut
