NEWS RELEASE
Oct. 16, 2025
PHOENIX — Halloween will soon be here, and carved pumpkins sitting outside may attract unwanted trick-or-treaters looking for an easy meal.
Habituating wildlife to human food sources can lead to property damage and potential conflicts that could result in serious injuries to people or pets.
“A ripened pumpkin sitting outdoors is like candy for javelinas,” said Darren Julian, urban wildlife specialist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Pumpkins and other edible decorations are easy meals for wildlife and often attract javelinas, coyotes, deer, and even bears.”
It is recommended that jack-o-lanterns, uncarved pumpkins and cornucopias be displayed indoors on window sills, so they can be seen from outside if desired, then discarded securely to help prevent encounters with foraging wildlife. If edible decorations must be displayed outdoors, place them high off the ground where they cannot be reached by wildlife.
Additionally, the public is reminded that it is illegal under state law (A.R.S. 13-2927) to knowingly feed wildlife in Pima, Maricopa and Pinal counties, with the exception of birds as well as tree squirrels, which are rare at lower elevations. Intentionally feeding wildlife is a crime, as it can create a public safety hazard when wildlife are unable to find the meal they’re seeking.
For more tips on minimizing wildlife conflicts, visit www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife.