Northumberland Wildlife Trust warns that public good-deeds could unwittingly harm local wildlife.
Each November, after the excitement of Halloween, pumpkins often find a second life as feasts for garden creatures, despite potential risks.
The Trust advises people to consider these dangers when deciding how to dispose of post-Halloween pumpkins.
The UK's Halloween spending is projected to surpass £1 billion in 2023, after Brits spent £28.95 million on pumpkins in 2022 alone, according to finder.com.
This results in a significant quantity of veggies needing disposal.
Contrary to popular perception that leaving pumpkins on the ground could provide a meal for wildlife, the Trust points out that pumpkins are highly dangerous to hedgehogs.
Acting as a natural laxative, consumption of pumpkins can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration in these creatures.
As winter approaches, it's especially crucial for hedgehogs to gain weight to survive hibernation, and pumpkin-induced sickness can severely hamper this necessary weight gain.
Aside from hedgehog harm, discarded pumpkins can lure rats, overpower wild plants, and eventually lead to the growth of invasive plant species due to a build up of nutrients in the top soil.
The charity encourages composting or burying pumpkins at least 12 - 18 inches deep as alternatives to surface disposal.
Converting pumpkins into bread, muffins, soup, or bird feeder pumpkin seed snacks is also suggested by the Trust.
Sara Frisby, Conservation Officer with Northumberland Wildlife Trust said: “As a conservation organisation we are always encouraging people to look after hedgehogs especially in the winter, so it’s great that people think they’re helping them by leaving their old pumpkins outside, however, unfortunately, it’s the wrong type of food for them.
"They may enjoy it, it may be the equivalent of gourmet dining, but it will make them very poorly, so please don’t do it.
“If you want to help wildlife, dry the seeds and put them in your bird feeders to keep them fuelled over the winter months."
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