The Halloween season is coming up quickly, and those carefully carved pumpkins sitting outside may be attracting some unwanted trick-or-treaters: hungry javelina and other wildlife looking for an easy meal.

According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, a ripened pumpkin sitting outdoors is like candy for javelina. Pumpkins and other edible decorations are easy meals for wildlife and often attract javelina, coyotes, deer, and even bears.

Habituating wildlife to human food sources can lead to property damage and potential conflicts that could result in serious injuries to people or pets.

To safely display holiday decorations, the Arizona Game and Fish Department recommends that jack-o’-lanterns, uncarved pumpkins, and cornucopias be displayed indoors on window sills so they can be seen from outside if desired, and discarded securely to help prevent encounters with foraging wildlife. If they must be displayed outdoors, be sure to place them high off the ground where they cannot be reached by wildlife.

Intentionally feeding wildlife can create a public safety hazard when wildlife are unable to find the meal they’re seeking.

Other wildlife may eat birdseed, so birds are best fed only in an enclosed yard, preferably from a bird feeder. A tray can be attached beneath a feeder to catch spillover seed. Seed blocks should be placed in an enclosed area or on a secure raised platform.

Visit azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife for more tips on minimizing wildlife conflicts.