Halloween is right around the corner and the Arizona Game and Fish Department is reminding people that those carved pumpkins could attract unwanted trick or treaters.
Spooky season could get spookier if you leave out edible Halloween decorations like a ripened jack-o-lantern.
Javelinas, coyotes, even bears are always looking for an easy meal. So, Game and Fish is recommending that carved and uncarved pumpkins, and any cornucopia of root vegetables be displayed indoors, then securely discarded to prevent wildlife encounters.
Or if you must put them outside, place them high off the ground.
With the exception of birds, it’s illegal to knowingly feed wildlife in Pima, Maricopa and Pinal counties.
Trick-or-treaters won’t be alone in the search for sweet snacks this Halloween. Here’s a warning: Anyone who decorates the outside of their home with real pumpkins might be visited by wild animals in search of food.
More Arizona animal news
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Two tribal members were bitten last week, and are now recovering from non-lethal injuries, according to acting Chief of Police Jesse Puffer. -
Maricopa County announced it’s looking to create a new nonprofit dedicated to supporting shelter pets. The funding received would support services like spay and neutering and vaccinations. -
Sunshine, the zoo’s 12-year-old Masai giraffe, gave birth to the calf on Nov. 16. This is Sunshine’s fifth baby and the fourth giraffe now at Phoenix Zoo. -
The Tonto National Forest has temporarily closed the lower Salt River area to most horses and pack animals after an equine virus was detected. The closure could last through March. -
The Mexican gray wolf has roamed parts of the Southwest for thousands of years.
