Pumpkins pose dilemma in Danish gardens as experts advise against leaving them for wildlife

Following Halloween, thousands of pumpkins are beginning to rot in Danish gardens, prompting questions about what to do with them. A widely shared Facebook post suggests leaving discarded pumpkins in forests or fields for deer to eat. However, nature guide Trine Sørensen from the Nature Agency in Southern Jutland advises against this practice.

While the suggestion may seem kind-hearted, Sørensen warns that it could have unintended negative consequences. Firstly, she notes that carved pumpkins are considered waste and should not be discarded in nature. Secondly, they could harm animals. “Fallow deer have very delicate stomachs. If they consume too many pumpkins, it can disrupt their digestion,” she explains.

Jens Henrik Jacobsen, a wildlife consultant at the Nature Agency in Western Jutland, supports her stance, highlighting that the pumpkins are often partially rotten and not suitable as fresh food. “This could upset the stomachs of ruminants since they don’t typically consume such items,” he adds.

Another option some might consider is donating pumpkins to local zoos. For instance, at Blåvand Zoo in Western Jutland, they use pumpkins both as food and toys for certain animals. However, zookeeper Julie Nykjær notes that they already receive sufficient pumpkins from local shops and cannot accommodate additional ones without wasting them.

Instead, both Nykjær and representatives from the Nature Agency recommend composting the pumpkins or disposing of them as organic waste.