It’s that time of year again! People everywhere are adorning their porches and yards with festive fall decorations—hay bales, cornstalks, garlands, and, of course, pumpkins. But beware: unlike plastic skeletons and string lights, real harvest decor can attract some curious wildlife, especially hungry bears looking for a snack as they prepare for winter.
A Connecticut family got an unexpected Halloween visitor when a black bear quickly stopped on their front porch, stared at their pumpkin as the perfect treat and then a video that captured internet hearts shows the looking around, like checking to see if… the bank is clear, before swiping bananas made it fly with it
Why Bears Attack Balconies for Shells
This is the part where bears start pulling a fall routine and stuffing their faces with as many calories possible to gain weight before winter. this bite of the year book, it helps them create ugly militia to go through colder months. We frequently think of bears as hibernating, but what they do is more akin to a form of torpor. varied flying aestivation hibernating bed time log z years allowing them to get up ahead winner again once ineluctable and act on thinsmov across the landscape only at his support they can sufficiency that author than weeks without eating drunkenness or move poignant relying solely along stored body fat.
Each shell contains approximately 2,000 calories — a full meal providing everything they need for the day. Elephants that have overeaten are able to consume up to 20,000 calories a day! Not surprisingly, these opportunistic feeders will go after simple foods, such as porch bananas, bird feeders, and even garbage cans.
Dangers of Leaving Pumpkins Out For Animals Counterfeit HAPPINESS
While mediums produce both sounds and music, please note that leaving edible decor on your porch (such as pumpkins) can cause suspicion with not only bears but smaller wildlife such as squirrels, rabbits or raccoons. But making wildlife into human food stores can create other issues. It creates a situation where these animals get used to human development, find food in neighborhoods and eventually come into conflict with people more often — which can be dangerous.
While experts are against deliberately leaving food out for wildlife, which might interfere with their natural searching and scavenging behavior. In a number of locales, Colorado included, leaving food like pumpkins outside is even considered baiting and runs counter to wildlife management guidelines.
How To Keep Bears Away From Your Pumpkins/String Out Wildlife
To avoid uninvited guests to eat from your eating Halloween pumpkins, here are a few simple tricks:
Hairspray It: A light coat of hairspray can make pumpkins less appetizing to wildlife. Just be cautious about open flames, as hairspray is flammable.
Ammonia Barrier: Spraying household ammonia around the pumpkin creates a strong odor that repels many animals, including bears.
Bring Pumpkins Indoors at Night: If you’re especially concerned about larger wildlife, consider bringing your pumpkins inside overnight to avoid any porch raids.
Bear Sightings in Connecticut: What You Should Know
According to state officials, the black bear population in Connecticut is estimated to be around 1,000, primarily residing in rural and mountainous areas. While their typical diet consists of shoots, berries, and other natural sources, bears are adaptable and will take advantage of whatever food they can find—especially during their pre-winter feeding frenzy.
Why This Connecticut Bear Went Viral
The video of the Connecticut bear swiping a pumpkin has sparked amusement and admiration online, with viewers commenting on the bear’s size and confidence. “That must be raiding pumpkins all over the neighborhood!” commented one viewer, while others were impressed by the bear’s size, noting that it’s quite large for the region.
As fall decorations fill our yards, remember that for some creatures, they’re more than decor—they’re a buffet. So, if you want to keep your pumpkins safe from critters big and small, try out a few of these wildlife deterrents, or just enjoy the chance to see nature up close and personal this Halloween season!