Updated October 2021
One of the best parts of Halloween is decorating with pumpkins. After the trick-or-treaters clear away and Halloween is officially over, don’t toss your pumpkins in the trash! Here are several all-natural ways to recycle them with local wildlife in mind.
If you’ve carved a jack-o-lantern, it may already be decomposing. Pumpkins are 90% water, which means they quickly begin breaking down once you cut into them. This makes them a great addition to your compost pile.
Prevent unwanted pumpkin plants by removing the seeds first (set seeds aside for #3 and #5). If you don’t have a compost bin or pile, check your local recycling center, nearby farms, or community gardens to see if they collect old pumpkins for composting.
2. Make a Snack-o-Lantern
You can recycle your pumpkin and turn it into a “snack-o-lantern” or a pumpkin feeder! These are easy to make and the squirrels and birds will love them. Just make sure to only use firm, fresh pumpkins. If they are getting soft and squishy or moldy, composting them is a better idea. Be sure to only fill them with enough seed for the wildlife to eat within a few days to prevent the seed from spoiling.
Many birds and small mammals will eat pumpkin seeds if you offer them in your yard. Collect seeds from your pumpkins before composting them, and let the seeds dry. Don’t add salt or seasoning is you’re going to offer them to the wildlife.
Scatter the seeds outside or put them in a platform feeder as a special treat. You can can also mix them in with birdseed in your feeders–just make sure the ports are big enough for the pumpkin seeds to fit through. You can even add them to your “snack-o-lantern” (see #2)!
4. Cut into Pieces for Animals
Cut your pumpkin into pieces and scatter outside as a treat for local critters. Birds will feed on the flesh pumpkins in addition to the seeds, as will squirrels, foxes, deer and other mammals–the porcupine in the video below doesn’t even need it cut into pieces!
Generally feeding mammals is discouraged but in this case it’s ok to do as a once-a-year treat for wildlife to recycle your pumpkin. Just don’t do this if large animals such as bears might be attracted to your yard (in most places brown and black bears are entering their winter dormancy by the time Halloween passes) or if rats are an issue in your area.
Pumpkins are part of the squash family, and their flowers are a food source for pollinators. Many bee species and other insects feed on pumpkin flower nectar. Our native squash bees rely on the pollen from squash flowers as a food source for their young. In fact, squash bees are among the 30-60 percent of our “pollen specialist” native bee species that can only feed on the pollen of certain plants.
So save some pumpkin seeds now to grow your own of pumpkin plants next year. They’re easy to grow and low maintenance garden plants. Not only will you have your own pumpkins to carve up next Halloween, you’ll “bee” feeding pollinators in the spring and summer too!
Garden for Wildlife with Native Plants
Help out your local birds, butterflies, bees, and other backyard wildlife year-round with the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Collection, our curated line of regional native plants designed to support the most wildlife and be beautiful additions to your yard or garden landscape.
Wildlife Facts | bird feeders, composting, Gardening for Wildlife, Halloween, Pumpkins
Published: October 30, 2014
As a dedicated environmental enthusiast with a keen interest in sustainable practices and wildlife conservation, I find great joy in sharing my in-depth knowledge on various eco-friendly initiatives. In particular, my expertise extends to the realm of recycling and repurposing organic materials to benefit local ecosystems. Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article about recycling pumpkins after Halloween.
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Composting Pumpkins: The article highlights the composting potential of pumpkins, emphasizing that they are 90% water and therefore decompose rapidly. I can attest to the effectiveness of pumpkins as a valuable addition to compost piles, given their high water content and organic composition. Removing seeds before composting is recommended to avoid unintentional pumpkin plant growth.
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Snack-o-Lanterns or Pumpkin Feeders: The concept of creating "snack-o-lanterns" or pumpkin feeders is an ingenious way to repurpose pumpkins for the benefit of wildlife, particularly squirrels and birds. I can affirm the importance of using fresh and firm pumpkins for this purpose, as moldy or squishy pumpkins are better suited for composting.
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Harvesting and Offering Pumpkin Seeds: Collecting pumpkin seeds for future use is a practical approach endorsed by the article. I can elaborate on the importance of letting the seeds dry before offering them to wildlife. Additionally, emphasizing the need to avoid adding salt or seasoning to the seeds ensures they remain a safe and healthy treat for birds and small mammals.
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Feeding Animals with Pumpkin Pieces: The article suggests cutting pumpkins into pieces and scattering them outside as a treat for various local critters. While generally, feeding mammals may be discouraged, the article makes a compelling case for this as a once-a-year treat for wildlife, with precautions in place to avoid attracting large animals like bears or exacerbating rat issues.
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Pumpkins as a Food Source for Pollinators: The ecological role of pumpkins as part of the squash family is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of their flowers as a food source for pollinators. I can elaborate on how pumpkin flowers provide nectar for many bee species and other insects, contributing to the well-being of native pollinators, such as squash bees.
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Gardening for Wildlife with Native Plants: The article concludes by promoting the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Collection as a means to support local wildlife year-round. I can underscore the significance of using native plants to create wildlife-friendly environments, benefiting birds, butterflies, bees, and other backyard species.
In summary, the article provides practical and eco-conscious ways to repurpose pumpkins post-Halloween, showcasing a holistic approach that considers composting, wildlife feeding, and the ecological role of pumpkins in supporting pollinators and native plants.
