The jack-o’-lanterns on your porch have had their moment to shine — so now’s the best time to give some animals a special Halloween treat.
Instead of letting your pumpkins rot or tossing them in the trash like last year, you can look up a farm sanctuary or wildlife rescue in your area that may be interested in taking them off your hands.
That’s just what a few families and pumpkin farmers have done this week for Southern New York Pig Rescue, and now the herd of adoptable pigs is having a blast tearing through a trailer full of juicy orange snacks.
“They all go wild over them,” Amy Mayer, president of the rescue, told The Dodo. “We cut them in slices like watermelon usually to make them go further.”
It’s the same case for the rescued residents at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, which is home to nearly 400 animals including cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits and goats.
The animals aren’t exactly picky when it comes to treats — but there are a few things to be sure of before handing off your pumpkins to a rescue or refuge to make sure they stay safe.
“If folks want to donate their pumpkins, they can be carved but can’t have candle residue in them or show any signs of rotting,” Lizz DeFeo, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary’s marketing manager, told The Dodo. “Fully intact pumpkins or carved is totally OK though!”
If there’s a wildlife sanctuary in your area, like Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, or Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, Texas, rescued tigers or even bears might end up with your leftovers.
Aside from donating pumpkins to rescue groups, people in more rural areas may also opt to leave one or two carved pumpkins in the woods or their backyards as a snack for any passing squirrels, chipmunks or deer.
No matter which furry or hooved friends you choose to send your pumpkins to this year, there’s no doubt the snack will make someone’s day a whole lot sweeter.
