Massachusetts Wildlife Could Benefit From Leftover Pumpkins

Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas tree is the center of attention. So what do you do with all those leftover pumpkins you bought at the farmstand that rocked the living room and front porch since October?

The City of New Bedford has several options for getting rid of your spent gourds. WBSM's Tim Weisberg wrote a pretty in-depth piece last year that is adaptable to this year. Those options include composting, yard waste pickup and recycling.

But wait, there's more!

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Gardeningknowhow.com says, "If they have begun to rot, composting is the best bet, but if they are still fairly fresh, you can put out the leftover pumpkins for wildlife."

"Yes, both the pumpkin flesh and seeds are enjoyed by a number of animals. It's good for you, so you can bet all kinds of critters will enjoy it," the site says.

Jessecology.com says, "Deer love pumpkins, possibly even more than most people do. And yet, they have a logistical hurdle getting their mouth around the pumpkin's round girth."

The site says, "The action part of the deer want to eat is the squishy, yummy insides."

The National Wildlife Federation says, "You can recycle your pumpkin and turn it into a 'snack-o-lantern' or a pumpkin feeder."

"These are easy to make, and the squirrels and birds will love them," the site says.

Just be sure the pumpkins are firm and not soft and squishy; otherwise, compost them.

Romper.com has a different take on all of this. The site says improperly disposing of your pumpkins at the landfill or dumping them in the woods creates greenhouse gases which lead to climate change.