CHEYENNE — With Halloween wrapped up, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department reminds residents to dispose of pumpkins in secure bins rather than leaving them out for wildlife to eat.

While pumpkins may look like a safe wildlife treat, animals like mule deer cannot properly digest this food and can cause illness. Discarded jack-o-lanters often contain candle wax residue, and can attract predators and scavengers like raccoons and bears.

“This time of year the department gets many calls about sickly deer fawns, and much of this can be attributed to these deer eating foods that offer little nutritional value and having a difficult time digesting the unnatural food. This makes them susceptible to parasites and other diseases,” said Stan Harter, Game and Fish wildlife biologist in Lander.

Even if unintentional, leaving pumpkins outdoors can be classified by local ordinances as feeding wildlife, which is illegal in some areas. Check with your city or county to review local regulations.

Here are some other things you can do to help wildlife this time of year:

• Pick up your hammocks, soccer nets and tomato cages, and consider placing holiday lights out of reach.
• Keep your pets confined and/or on a leash and do not allow pets to chase wildlife. Keep your distance and give wildlife plenty of room. 
• Slow down on roadways for migrating wildlife, especially at dawn and dusk. Plan for added time in your travels.
• If you have fences, make them wildlife-friendly and open gates wherever possible for easier wildlife movement. 

— WGFD —