As Halloween wraps up, millions of pumpkins are left without a purpose, and many well-intentioned people think leaving them in forests or parks could be a helpful treat for wildlife. However, Forestry England and other national park organizations are now discouraging this practice—not because pumpkins are harmful in small amounts, but because public lands are at risk of being overwhelmed by pumpkin waste. The message is clear: nature is not a dumping ground, and there are better ways to support wildlife that won’t disrupt their natural environment.
Why Forestry England Says "No" to Pumpkins
Forestry England’s stance is largely aimed at preventing forests, parks, and national reserves from becoming seasonal waste sites. When hundreds or even thousands of people bring their pumpkins to natural spaces, it creates a large-scale problem. Excess pumpkins attract pests, spread mould and rot, and disrupt the delicate ecosystems that parks work hard to maintain.
Helping Nature Without Using It As A Dustbin
Supporting wildlife can be done in ways that are both thoughtful and sustainable. Here are some alternatives to pumpkin dumping that benefit animals without impacting their natural habitats:
Donate Your Pumpkins to Local Zoos, Animal Parks, or Children's Farms: Many animal parks, children's farms (farms with livestock meant for human consumption cannot serve leftover food waste), and zoos happily accept pumpkin donations, where they can be fed to animals in measured amounts. These organizations are equipped to monitor portion sizes and remove leftovers within 24 hours, ensuring that animals get all the benefits of pumpkins without the risks of overeating or environmental waste. Reach out to your local zoo or animal sanctuary to see if they’re accepting pumpkins this season.
Plant Native Species to Support Wildlife Year-Round: A sustainable way to support wildlife is by planting native flowers, shrubs, and trees in your garden. Unlike a single seasonal food source, native plants provide local animals with ongoing food, shelter, and habitats. For instance, native berry bushes and pollinator-friendly flowers offer crucial nutrients across the seasons, supporting wildlife in a way that respects their natural diets and feeding cycles.
Provide Pumpkins Safely in Your Garden: If you want to offer pumpkins directly to wildlife in your garden, do so in a responsible manner and remove any uneaten pumpkin within 24 hours. Ensure that you avoid using pumpkins with candle wax or other decoration applied, as it can be harmful to animals. Serve pumpkins in measured amounts that suit the species you aim to attract, such as cutting them into small, manageable pieces, or washing and toasting the seeds. You can also cube the flesh and freeze it for the occasional treat. Present the pumpkin in elevated places, like on a platform or hanging feeder, to keep the pumpkin out of reach of ground-dwelling pests and other animals that might gorge.
Compost Your Pumpkins at Home or Use Them in Your Garden: Pumpkins are perfect for composting! Instead of leaving them in parks, consider adding them to your compost pile or community composting initiative. As they break down, they enrich the soil, creating a sustainable resource for future plants. If you garden, pumpkins can also be chopped up and buried in the soil to provide a natural nutrient boost.
Feeding Wildlife Responsibly
Due to depleting natural resources, wildlife face challenges in maintaining balanced diets, leading some animals to gorge on foods when available. Pumpkins, for example, are rich in nutrients like fibre and vitamins A and C, also double as a natural parasite cleanse, which can benefit animals like foxes, deer, badgers, and certain bird species when given in moderation.
While pumpkins are safe for many animals to eat, large amounts dumped all at once can overwhelm local wildlife and ecosystems. Imagine it as the animal equivalent of kids binging on chocolate and sweets at Easter: while small amounts are okay, too much can lead to digestive issues, illness, and nutritional imbalances. For animals with high parasite burdens, over-medicating with natural remedies can potentially lead to Herxheimer reactions. This temporary worsening of symptoms may occur as the body attempts to detoxify or eliminate toxins released from dying parasites.
While animal parks and zoos can safely feed pumpkins in controlled amounts, when large amounts of people start dumping large quantities of food in forests or national parks, it disrupts natural feeding patterns, promotes pests and encourages mould. By donating pumpkins to controlled environments and focusing on native planting, you can make a difference without impacting animals’ health and behaviour.
A Year-Round Commitment to Wildlife
The best way to help wildlife is through year-round actions that sustain their health and habitats. This autumn, consider ways to make a sustainable impact: donate your pumpkins to zoos or farms, compost responsibly, and plant native species to provide food and shelter throughout the year.
Let’s keep public lands clean and free from seasonal waste while finding ways to truly benefit local animals and ecosystems.With a little extra thought, we can ensure our seasonal traditions help both wildlife and the environment—no waste needed!
