Wildlife-Friendly Halloween Pumpkins
As you carve your Halloween pumpkin, keep your backyard friends in mind. The seeds you scoop out are a treat for many birds such as jays, nuthatches, and grosbeaks. Wash the pulp off the seeds, then dry them in a 250-degree oven for about one hour. You can serve your avian feast right away or store the seeds in a closed container to feed your feathered friends throughout winter.
After Halloween has come and gone, don’t throw that old jack-o-lantern away. Instead, turn it into a sumptuous repast for wildlife, too. If you don't live in an urban area, place your pumpkin shell in a secluded area of your yard—where it won’t be an eyesore and cautious animals will feel comfortable visiting. Add cauliflower eyes, broccoli ears, and a carrot nose, then watch your pumpkin disappear as backyard residents munch away at this nutritious post-Halloween treat. (Please note: Leaving pumpkins and other food items in your yard is not advised in urban environments, where they are likely to attract rodent pests, such as rats.)
To us, these may seem like merely decorations.
To your wild friends, they spell F-E-A-S-T.
