It may seem harmless to discard your Jack-O’-Lantern in the woods after Halloween, but experts have cautioned that it can be dangerous to wildlife.
According to the Woodland Trust, thousands of tonnes of pumpkins are discarded after Halloween, many of which are discarded in neighboring forests.
However, pumpkin flesh can kill hedgehogs and other animals, attract rats, and disrupt the health of soils, plants, and fungi.
Instead, the organization suggests disposing of pumpkins in a food waste bin or compost heap, or even eating them if they are still in good shape.
Hedgehogs are opportunistic eaters that spend the fall and early winter storing fat for hibernation.
Trevor Weeks of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service explained, “As a result, hedgehogs can gorge themselves on readily available food, such as discarded pumpkins.”
As they are not built to consume big quantities of fruit, fleshy, fibrous fruit can cause stomach troubles and diarrhea despite not being harmful to them.
This can cause them to become bloated and very dehydrated, which can be fatal.
They cannot afford to become ill at this time of year, or they may not survive the winter hibernation.
In recent years, Woodland Trust employees have observed a growing trend of pumpkins being thrown in the woods in the days following Halloween.
According to Woodland Trust’s Paul Bunton, a notion has developed that leaving pumpkins in forests benefits wildlife.
People believe they are performing a nice deed by not disposing of them in landfills and leaving them for nature.
However, pumpkin flesh is harmful to hedgehogs, attracts rat colonies, and hurts woodland soils, plants, and fungi.
We cannot allow discarded pumpkins to deteriorate, so we are left with an orange, mushy mess at several of our sites.
On its website, the Woodland Trust offers advice on how to make the most of leftovers, such as by creating a pumpkin bird feeder for the yard.
These pumpkin bird feeders should be hung high above the ground, well away from hedgehogs, and removed as they begin to rot.
Hubbub, an environmental organization, also encourages the public to eat their pumpkins after Halloween, provided they are not too old, have been stored in a cool room, and have not been burned.
At a time when food costs are at an all-time high, according to the charity, Brits will discard 22.2 million uneaten pumpkins this Halloween, costing approximately £32.6 million.
Even if a pumpkin is labeled as a “carving pumpkin” in stores, it is still entirely edible and can be used as a base for soups, stews, curries, or pumpkin pie after being carved and baked.
Alternately, the flesh can be blended in a food processor to make a homemade pumpkin spice latte with coffee, milk, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
Only the vegetable’s stalk is inedible, and the remainder can be frozen if not prepared shortly after Halloween.
Pumpkins are an inexpensive, healthy, and varied food source that may go a long way and are perfect for feeding a large group, according to Ellen Rutherford, the food director at Hubbub.
People may find it easier to discard their pumpkin carvings, especially if they’re also balancing the demands of costume creation and hosting.
However, we are eager to convey the message that cooking this delectable vegetable should be postponed until after Halloween.
The charity urges the public not to consume pumpkins that have been left outside or used to hold candles and to compost those that have turned sticky and moldy.
Aoife Allen, director at Hubbub, stated, “It should be fine to cook and consume on the same day as carving or the following day, as long as it smells fresh and feels firm.”
