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It’s that of year again – you and your family spend time carving the perfect pumpkin to decorate for fall and Halloween only to find that squirrels and other critters are munching on your hard work.
It’s frustrating to have wildlife making a meal out of your carved pumpkins, but there are some tips and tricks to try and squirrel-proof your spooky holiday decor.
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Reigning North American champion pumpkin grower Travis Grienger set a potential world record for the heaviest pumpkin ever at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, on Monday.
There are a few different things you can do to try and keep squirrels and other animals away from your pumpkins.
One way is to buy an animal repellent that you would use in a garden, or you can make your own.
According to The Pioneer Woman, if you’re a pet owner, you can use their fur to your advantage. Cats and dogs are natural predators of squirrels, so you can put their fur or something covered in their fur around the base of your pumpkin to try and keep pests away.
You can also cover the gourd in a thick layer of petroleum jelly, which will not only deter squirrels from eating your pumpkin, but it will also prevent the carved edges from rotting quickly.
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FILE – A squirrel bites into a pumpkin at the “Halloween at Descanso” event at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge, California. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
According to David Hillock, a consumer horticulturist with Oklahoma State University’s Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, capsaicin is probably the most effective deterrent.
Capsaicin is the chemical in chili peppers that makes them spicy. So, you could sprinkle cayenne pepper on the pumpkin. You can also blend crushed red pepper with water and a drop of dish soap to spray on the pumpkins as well, according to the Bob Vila website.
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A squirrel stands on pumpkins carved into Halloween jack-o’-lanterns Oct. 25, 2004, in Washington, D.C.
(Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Looking for something else to use to try and keep rodents away from your pumpkins? Martha Stewart’s website says some essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus oil could keep animals at bay.
Vinegar, too, is also thought to be a deterrent for squirrels and other animals due to the strong scent, according to Martha Stewart’s website.
It’s also a good idea to remove all seeds and strings from the inside of a pumpkin. That could make it less tempting for scavengers, according to BobVila.com.
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It took 11 hours for Lebanon, Missouri, resident Steve Kueny to squash the Guinness World Records for the longest voyage by pumpkin vessel. His whimsical sense for adventure took him paddling 38 miles in a 1,200-pound pumpkin, which he named Huckle Berry, along the Missouri River. (Video from October 11, 2023)
If that doesn’t work, you can always just keep your pumpkins inside where they’re safe from animals.
“If the pumpkins are in a small garden and there are only a handful, they could build cages out of a woven wire mesh and secure it over the pumpkins,” Hillock said. “If they are on the porch, carved or not, taking them indoors (or in a garage) during the day or when no one is around can reduce damage.”