Have you put out your Halloween decorations yet? Are you planning on setting off fireworks this season? Will you leave your pumpkin on the side of the road?
Halloween is a spooky time for humans, but it doesn鈥檛 need to be so for the animals we share our spaces with. Follow these tips to keep wildlife safe on Halloween and during the fall season.
As Halloween approaches, the excitement of the season brings an increase in potential threats to wildlife. Fireworks, fake spider webs, and pumpkins left on roadsides are just a few of the dangers that can pose serious risks to animals. When you also factor in shortening daylight hours and the inexperience of many first-year animals living independently for the first time, the likelihood of human-wildlife conflict rises significantly.
Fireworks are perhaps the most obvious threat to wildlife, and it isn鈥檛 just the pooch who gets scared. Loud explosions, often taking place in rural areas at night, can disrupt the natural behaviours of animals trying to sleep or forage for food under the safety of darkness. The noise and sudden flashes can disorient them, leading to dangerous outcomes like collisions with cars or windows. This impact is noticeable even among the ambassador birds living at MARS Wildlife Rescue, who often display signs of unease during these events including flying into walls and skipping meals.
Another threat is the tradition of leaving pumpkins along highways, a custom that some cities have adopted during the Halloween season. While this may seem harmless, MARS has noticed an increase in wildlife patients since the practice began. Animals like raccoons, deer and bear attracted to the discarded and delicious pumpkins on the roadside are at a greater risk of being hit by cars. Birds of prey like owls or hawks must often cross highways to catch animals attracted to roadsides. While pumpkins are the seasonal trend, we also recommend not throwing organic material like banana peels or apple cores out your car window.
During Halloween week, MARS typically refrains from releasing recovered patients back into the wild. The heightened activity, loud noises, and chaotic environments make this a particularly dangerous time for animals to be reintroduced to their natural habitats.
To help protect wildlife during this festive season, it鈥檚 important to be mindful of how our activities can impact the animals around us. Limiting fireworks, keeping decorations animal-friendly, and disposing of pumpkins responsibly are small steps we can take to ensure a safer Halloween for all creatures.
