We’re asking Victoria residents who care about wildlife to write Saanich Council about the pumpkins that have been left along the Mt. Doug Parkway the last few years.
While they may seem quaint and innocent enough, they’re actually attractants, which draw in a number of species to this busy roadway.
Small rodents like rats or mice will be attracted to this food source, along with their predators like owls or raptors, who may swoop in and get hit by a passing motor vehicle.
This could also attract deer, and roadsides are a dangerous place for these easily spooked animals. And pumpkins are also a known attractant for bears, raccoons, squirrels and other birds.

It’s also against the law – Saanich quotes the BC Wildlife Act laws against attractants:
- A person must not (a) intentionally feed or attempt to feed dangerous wildlife, or (b) provide, leave or place an attractant in, on or about any land premises with the intent of attracting dangerous wildlife.
- A person must not leave or place an attractant in, on or about any land premises where there are or where there are likely to be people, in a manner in which the attractant could (a) attract dangerous wildlife to the land or premises, and (b) be accessible to dangerous wildlife.
And it’s also littering. (A reminder that even ‘compostable’ food products should never be discarded on a roadside, which similarly can attract wildlife and put them in harms way.)
In addition to removing any pumpkins that are left there, Saanich should place signs there explaining how it’s harmful for our local wildlife. (Not to mention illegal.) It wouldn’t hurt if they also posted this on their social media channels, and other communication mediums like email lists.
You can email Saanich Council directly with this email address: council@saanich.ca
Please ask them to ensure no pumpkins are left in this (or any) spot, and help educate citizens about the dangers of littering with attractants.
Thank you for speaking up for wildlife!!
UPDATE 11/04: Good to see a piece in the Times Colonist discussing this matter as well.
UPDATE 10/30: If you’re looking for somewhere to send your pumpkins, there’s something happening at UVic, found on a Reddit thread here.
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