Halloween season is coming, and it’s never too early to start decorating, or is it? If you put out your pumpkins too early, they may suffer a fate worse than being smashed; mice are notorious for saddling up to the pumpkin buffet until they have their fill. Even then, they return night after night for more goodies until the pumpkin is barely recognizable. If you make the mistake of carving too early, mice will devour your pumpkin from the inside out. Talk about a Halloween fright fest! Find out why mice love pumpkins so much and what you can do to help preserve your decorations. 

Delicious and Nutritious 

Pumpkins are a sweet treat for humans, just as they are for mice. We use the sweet pumpkin flesh for pies and cookies, cakes, and goodies all season long. The history of the consumption of pumpkins stretches back over 10,000 years. 

Vitamins 

Everyone knows that mice have poor eyesight, and they use their whiskers to feel and map out the area around them. Perhaps their lack of sharp vision causes them to seek out the high levels of vitamin A that pumpkins supply. Pumpkins have so many other vitamins and minerals that they are considered a top superfood. 

Sweet 

Because pumpkins get sweeter and sweeter as they ripen or decompose, mice love when a pumpkin has already been carved. They do not have to work as hard to get to the more tender inside.

Seeds

If the pumpkin is left uncarved, mice will make their way to the interior to find the high-protein seeds high in fibre and energy; high-energy foods are a good source of winter nourishment. 

Uncarved and Jack-O’-Lanterns 

You can delay the damage to your pumpkin if you leave them uncarved until just before Halloween. Not only will it help with mice control, but you will also deter other wildlife. 

Exterior 

The outside of the pumpkin is rigid and slightly woody, and it is also large and rounded, meaning it is more difficult for little mice mouths to get a substantial bite. You will likely only find small gnaw marks here and there on an uncarved pumpkin. 

Interior 

The interior of the pumpkin is where the real damage is done. Once the pumpkin is carved, mice will go to Halloween-town on the tender orangey flesh inside. It is sweet, soft, and fibrous, which will tear off in smaller strips.

Decomposition 

Carved or uncarved, once your pumpkin starts to wrinkle and cave in, the sweet stench of rot will begin beckoning wildlife from all over. You can expect mice to swarm to the area once the exterior is easier to penetrate. 

Plan and Decorate 

To get ahead of those fuzzy little pumpkin-eaters, you must have a plan in place before you decorate for fall. 

Artificial 

With advances in technology, the artificial pumpkins that are being produced these days are beautiful. They are life-like and come in many different varieties to suit your design style. Many fake pumpkins are also carvable but without the sticky mess of the real experience. 

Wait 

If you must have a live pumpkin, at least wait until closer to Halloween to put it out to deter pests and especially mice. If you plan to carve the pumpkin, refrain from doing so until the very week of Halloween for best results. 

Deterrents 

Be cautious about using poisons as deterrents; it is not recommended, especially if you grow your foods or have pets. The best deterrent, in this case, is prevention or removal. 

Call and Remove 

Mice are cute, but they could be carrying illnesses and parasites that you don’t want to come in contact with ever. Do not try to handle mice control on your own. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control for humane wildlife removal in Coquitlam for best results and a worry-free process.