Everyone loves nice, seasonal decorations in autumn, especially pumpkins, gourds and Jack-o’-lanterns. Unfortunately, these decorations can act as a bit of critter bait to the animals living near your home. So, if you place some of these edible items on your front porch in September, you may quickly start to notice signs of squirrels and chipmunks eating your pumpkin, so much so that you may have to replace some of them by the time Halloween comes around.
Squirrels Eating Pumpkins
The sweetness of the pumpkins is like a squirrel magnet. Squirrels love to eat pumpkins because of the seeds and soft, edible interiors. The seeds are a rich source of fats and proteins that help fatten them for the winter. When we carve a pumpkin as a jack o’lantern, it only makes it more enticing for the squirrel. We have done the hard work for them!
The Best Pictures of Squirrels Eating Pumpkins on Reddit
What Other Pests Eat Jack O' Lanterns?
Other rodents like mice and rats will be interested in eating your jack-o-lantern, but it may also attract larger animals, including raccoons, opossums, deer, and more.
How to Stop Squirrels Eating Pumpkins
To prevent all this from happening, it’s best to proactively prevent the critters from ever getting to your pumpkins in the first place. A great way to do that is to keep a tidy lawn around your house: squirrels and other critters hide in messy, unkempt lawns, so be sure to keep your leaves raked throughout the fall to prevent them from frequenting your property.
After you carve your pumpkin, you can try to apply different materials to deter squirrels. Apply lacquer can keep your Jack O’Lantern looking fresh until Halloween and deter squirrels. Squirrels seem to dislike the feel of hairspray and petroleum jelly. These are not the most eco-friendly options.
Apply hot sauce, garlic spray, or vinegar are a natural method to discourage squirrels from eating your pumpkins. These scents wear off rather quickly so you will need to reapply regularly.
Is It That Big of a Deal for Critters to Eat My Pumpkins?
The problem can extend beyond just decoration replacement costs: if the critters become comfortable approaching your home, they may begin looking for ways to get inside, in hopes of finding more abundant food sources within. Once inside, your critter issue becomes much more cumbersome, costly and potentially even dangerous, as squirrels, chipmunks, and other critters have a penchant for spreading diseases and chewing on electrical wiring, which can cause house fires.
