Putting a Halloween pumpkin on your porch could lead to a real-life scare: an unwanted visit by predators or other wildlife.
State wildlife officials say wild critters — coyotes, javelinas and even bears — are sometimes attracted by fall decorations such as pumpkins, gourds and squash that people place outside their homes in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
They advise displaying such items indoors — perhaps in a window where they will be visible to people outside but not available to hungry animals.
“We don’t want to put a damper on anyone’s celebrations. We just want to head off human-wildlife conflicts,” said Mark Hart, spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
“It’s primarily javelinas we’re concerned about,” said Hart, noting that recent problems with javelinas in one Tucson neighborhood became so severe that wildlife officers killed seven of the animals. “But many other species will also forage on pumpkins, including deer, coyotes and bears.”
Coyotes, which are classified as predators as well as scavengers, and javelinas can pose a danger to pets and people — especially if the wild animals are cornered during an encounter.
“It’s not just pumpkins and gourds people should be concerned about,” Hart said. “Maize or squash or other things used in Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations can attract wildlife.”
It’s best to display such items indoors, “but if you’re going to put them outside, you need to put them out of reach of wildlife, and that’s pretty high,” he said. “A coyote can jump a six-foot fence.”
An alternative is to use nonvegetable decorations — items made of ceramics or plastic, Hart said.
