Colorado Officials Warned Residents About Pumpkin Disposal
Discarding pumpkins on porches or in yards can attract bears, deer, and raccoons to your property this season.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Wildlife
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife has issued a reminder to residents regarding the potential for seasonal wildlife conflicts. Pumpkins left outdoors attract hungry animals, and officials are urging households to manage disposal carefully during this period of historically high bear activity.
Why it matters
Wildlife attracted by easy food sources can create dangerous household interactions and property damage for families across the state. With human-bear conflicts reaching historic levels this year, managing exterior food waste has become a critical part of maintaining home safety.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports that human-bear conflicts have reached historic levels across the state compared to prior years. While wildlife monitoring is ongoing, state policy explicitly prohibits the feeding of wildlife, including the leaving of pumpkins on porches or in yards.
The players
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
The state agency responsible for managing wildlife populations and issuing guidance to residents regarding safe interactions with local fauna.
The details
Wildlife gain easy access to pumpkins when they are left in yards or on front porches as seasonal decorations. Once animals like bears, deer, and raccoons are drawn to a residence by an unsecured food source, they may persist in returning to the property. To mitigate this risk, residents should dispose of pumpkins in trash receptacles or compost them immediately rather than leaving them outside.
Timeline
October 2026: Bear incidents continue to occur across many regions of Colorado.
Halloween 2026: Residents are encouraged to prioritize diligent disposal or composting of holiday pumpkins.
The Home Front
The reminder follows existing Colorado Parks and Wildlife anti-feeding regulations that govern residential property maintenance. This guidance aligns with broader efforts to minimize human-wildlife encounters that have increased in frequency as residential developments expand into natural habitats.
Check your porch or yard for any pumpkins or decorative food items that could attract wandering animals. If you have pumpkins you are no longer displaying, move them to a secure compost bin or dispose of them in your trash to prevent drawing bears and raccoons to your doorstep.
The takeaway
Wildlife will actively seek out accessible food sources in your yard, creating safety risks for your family and neighborhood. The most effective step you can take is to remove pumpkins from your porch as soon as they are no longer needed for display.
Further reading
For more tips on securing your property and coexisting with local fauna, visit the Wildlife section of our site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Valley Courier.
Live Poll
Should residents avoid leaving pumpkins outdoors to prevent attracting bears in your area?
