GILLETTE, Wyo. — Pumpkins, if not disposed of properly and left out for animals to consume, can make wildlife sick, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. 

Per Game and Fish, it may seem harmless to leave pumpkins out, but quite the opposite is true, especially for mule deer, whose digestive systems can’t process unnatural foods, leading to sick animals. 

Lander Region Wildlife Biologist Stan Harter said the department gets many calls regarding sickly deer fawns each year around this time. Many of those calls can be attributed to the animals eating foods offering little nutritional value that they have a difficult time digesting.   

“This makes them susceptible to parasites and other diseases,” Harter said in an Oct. 30 release. 

Wyoming has many places with ordinances making the intentional feeding of wildlife by private citizens illegal; residents should check with their respective cities and counties for more information, per Game and Fish. 

The department offers other ways to help wildlife this time of year. These are:

• Picking up hammocks, soccer nets, and tomato cages, and placing holiday lights out of reach
• Confining pets or keeping them on a leash to prevent them from chasing wildlife
• Slowing down on roadways — particularly at dusk and dawn — for migrating wildlife
• Making fences wildlife-friendly and opening gates wherever possible for easier wildlife movement