Why you’re being asked to bring pumpkins in at night

With many getting their jack o’lanterns ready to greet Halloween trick or treaters, Lower Mainlanders are being asked to remember to bring pumpkins inside before they go to bed.

Experts are warning people pumpkins that are left outside could attract wildlife, especially bears, who are currently in hyperphagia in preparation for hybernation and winter denning.

“To keep them out of communities, it is crucial to secure all attractants, such as garbage, pet food and birdseed. This includes pumpkins,” the BC Conservation Officer Service said in a social media post Friday.

WildSafeBC says bears in hyperphagia are looking to fatten up, and can “consume up to 30,000 calories a day before going into hibernation.”

“At home, if you don’t want bears in your backyard, take a walk around, do a bear hazard assessment and take a look,” explained Kathy Murray, provincial support with WildSafeBC.

“Is there anything there that could potentially attract a bear such as garbage, fruit trees, pet food? Bring the pet food indoors. Pumpkins this time of year, Halloween is coming up, and pumpkins are a bear attractant and a food source. Bring the pumpkins in at night.”

Instead of leaving carved pumpkins outside and potentially creating a risk to the public, the BCCOS suggests displaying them in windows.

But if that’s not an option, it is urging people to not keep the jack o’lanterns out longer than they need to be.

“If you must put your pumpkin outside, the COS suggests doing this on Halloween night only, and bringing them inside at night before disposing of them properly. It is important to limit the length of time your pumpkin is outdoors, especially if you live in a neighbourhood with bear activity,” the service explained.

Murray notes “B.C. is bear country,” no matter where you are.

“I think even walking around town or trails or parks, be prepared and expect to encounter bears,” she told CityNews Tuesday.

If you do encounter a bear, she stresses it’s important to stop and stay calm.

“Speak to the bear in a calm voice, let the bear know you’re human and not prey, and back away slowly. Give the bear some space. Remember, bears protect three things: their food, their space, and their young. Backing away will give the bear the message that you’re not a threat, and again, never approach and never feed wildlife.”

The BC Conservation Officer Service is encouraging people to report bear encounters and conflicts in urban spaces to the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline at 1-877-952-7277.

-With files from Robyn Crawford