27 Animals That Eat Pumpkins, From Backyard Squirrels to Zoo Elephants
October 25, 2026
Every October, porches across the country fill up with carved jack-o’-lanterns, and by November many of them look like something has been gnawing on the rind. That something is usually one of dozens of animals that eat pumpkins, drawn in by the soft flesh, oily seeds, and sugary pulp packed inside every gourd. The list runs far wider than most homeowners expect, stretching from tiny voles under the porch to elephants at the zoo.
Understanding which animals eat pumpkins, and which part of the fruit they go for, helps explain the tooth marks on a porch pumpkin and offers a simple way to put leftover Halloween decorations to good use instead of the trash can. This rundown covers 27 species, from common backyard visitors to farmyard regulars and a few surprising giants.
1. Squirrels
The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is usually the first animal to find a pumpkin left outside. According to The Nature Conservancy, squirrels will be the first to lay claim to any pumpkin in your backyard, though the pattern varies by neighborhood.
A-Z Animals notes that generally, squirrels will eat anything from seeds, nuts, fungi, and even some fruits and vegetables, including your pumpkins. Wildlife researchers quoted by Fox News add another wrinkle: when squirrels target pumpkins instead of nuts, Steven Sullivan, the director of the Hefner Museum of Natural History at Ohio’s Miami University, explains it can signal that local trees haven’t produced enough seeds that year. Squirrels typically strip the seeds first, then work through the pulp and soft rind, leaving the tough stem behind. Anyone curious about what preys on these same rodents can check out this breakdown of animals that eat squirrels for the other side of the food chain.
2. Deer
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) rank among the most persistent pumpkin raiders in suburban and rural yards alike. Earth Life describes deer as opportunistic feeders, noting that deer are opportunistic feeders and will readily consume ripe pumpkins when available, and the sweet, moist flesh is particularly attractive during autumn.
Deer favor specific parts over others. World Deer reports that their favorite parts are the seeds, the insides of the pumpkin, and the soft portion of the rind, and the same source notes pumpkins are high in potassium, fatty acids, and vitamins A and E, while the seeds are rich in protein and fiber. Nature’s MACE adds that pumpkins are a nutritious food source for deer, especially during fall and winter when natural forage becomes scarce. Wondeerful Farm sums up the appeal simply: whitetail deer eat pumpkins and can work through the whole of the fruit: guts, seeds and shells (rinds). Gardeners who also want to know what else deer browse can review this guide to animals that eat leaves for a fuller picture of their plant-based diet.
3. Raccoons
Raccoons (Procyon lotor) treat a jack-o’-lantern like an already-opened snack bar. As Critter Control points out, the fact that the pumpkin is carved up only makes it easier for local wildlife to access its tasty insides, which many animals will happily chow down on, regardless of whether it’s fresh or rotting. Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores that eat almost anything soft and available before winter, and pumpkin flesh fits that bill perfectly.
These nocturnal visitors tend to leave behind claw marks and scattered seeds rather than clean bite patterns, since they use their dexterous front paws to tear the rind apart before eating. A pumpkin left near a trash can or compost pile is especially likely to attract them. Homeowners noticing similar rummaging in citrus trees might also want to see which animals eat oranges, since raccoons frequently raid both fruits in the same season.
4. Opossums/Possums
The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is North America’s only native marsupial, and it is not a picky eater. Opossums are scavengers by nature, feeding on insects, carrion, fallen fruit, and garden leftovers, so a softening pumpkin on the ground is an easy target once it starts to break down.
Unlike squirrels, opossums rarely climb onto porches to reach an intact pumpkin. They are far more likely to find one that has already been knocked over or split open by another animal, then finish off what is left. Their slow, methodical feeding style means a single opossum can spend an entire night working through one pumpkin.
5. Rats
The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and its relatives are drawn to pumpkins for the same reason they raid bird feeders and compost bins: easy calories. Rats can squeeze through small openings, which means even a pumpkin that looks intact from the outside may already have a rat-sized hole carved into its base.
Rats tend to favor the seeds and softer interior pulp over the tougher rind, gnawing their way in rather than chewing from the outside. For homeowners dealing with rodent problems beyond the pumpkin patch, this list of animals that eat rats outlines the natural predators that help keep populations in check.
6. Groundhogs
The groundhog (Marmota monax), also called a woodchuck, is a dedicated herbivore that spends late summer and early fall eating heavily to build fat reserves for hibernation. Pumpkins ripening in a garden bed are an obvious target, since groundhogs will gnaw through the rind to reach the flesh and seeds inside.
Because groundhogs are most active in the weeks before they den up for winter, pumpkin damage from this species tends to spike in September and October, right as the animals bulk up for their long sleep. Readers curious about other deep hibernators can compare notes with this list of animals that sleep a lot.
7. Skunks
Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are omnivores that eat insects, grubs, small rodents, and a fair amount of plant matter, which puts pumpkins well within their normal diet. A skunk digging at the base of a pumpkin patch is often after grubs in the soil first, but it will happily eat the fruit itself once it finds an opening.
Skunk damage on pumpkins usually shows up as small, shallow bite marks rather than the large chunks left by raccoons or deer, since skunks have smaller jaws built more for insects than tough plant fiber.
8. Coyotes
Coyotes (Canis latrans) are primarily meat eaters, but their diet shifts with the seasons, and fall is when many coyotes add more fruit and vegetable matter to their meals. A rotting pumpkin left in a field can attract coyotes looking for an easy, calorie-dense snack, especially in areas where small prey has thinned out for the winter.
Coyote feeding on pumpkins is less common than the behavior seen in squirrels or deer, but it does happen, particularly with pumpkins left in orchards or agricultural fields rather than suburban yards.
9. Mice
The house mouse (Mus musculus) and native field mice share the same weakness for pumpkin seeds and soft flesh that draws in rats. Mice are small enough to slip into even a barely cracked pumpkin, making them one of the harder culprits to spot until the damage is already done.
A pumpkin stored in a garage or shed over winter is especially vulnerable to mice, since it offers both food and a source of moisture during colder, drier months.
10. Porcupines
The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is a slow-moving herbivore with a taste for bark, twigs, and seasonal produce. The Nature Conservancy lists porcupines among the wildlife that regularly eat leftover pumpkins, noting that many other wild animals eat pumpkins, including porcupines, raccoons, opossums and deer.
Porcupines tend to gnaw large, rounded sections out of a pumpkin rather than nibbling small bites, and their distinctive incisor marks are usually wider and more pronounced than those left by squirrels or rats. This porcupine profile fits alongside other notable species in this list of animals that start with P.
11. Rabbits
Eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) and other wild rabbits eat pumpkin flesh, seeds, and even the leafy vines of pumpkin plants while they’re still growing in the garden. Rabbits tend to go after low-hanging or ground-level pumpkins first, since they rarely climb or jump onto raised porches.
Because rabbits are prey animals for so many backyard predators, a rabbit feeding on a fallen pumpkin at dusk is also easy pickings for foxes and hawks. This overlap is covered in more depth in this guide to animals that eat bunnies.
12. Birds (crows, blue jays, cardinals, sparrows, chickadees, finches, etc.)
A wide range of backyard birds peck at pumpkins once the flesh softens or a squirrel has already opened one up. American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and blue jays are bold enough to attack an intact pumpkin’s softer spots, while smaller songbirds like chickadees and finches mostly go after the exposed seeds.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County recommends putting cleaned pumpkin seeds directly out for birds, noting you can also add raw pumpkin seeds in with the bird seed for your backyard birds. Cardinals and sparrows in particular will visit a dish of raw, unsalted seeds well into the winter months. For a look at how these same birds interact with other insects in the yard, see this list of animals that eat butterflies.
13. Chickens
The domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) will eat almost anything placed in its coop run, and pumpkin is no exception. A-Z Animals puts it plainly: chickens are not picky eaters and will eat anything put in front of them, including pumpkins. The same source notes just how widespread the species is, pointing out the chicken is the most common domestic animal in the world, with a population of over 34 billion.
Backyard flock owners often break pumpkins into halves or quarters at the end of the season, letting chickens peck out the seeds and flesh over several days. The seeds in particular are a favorite, and many keepers save them specifically as a fall treat for their flock.
14. Foxes
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are omnivorous opportunists that shift their diet with the seasons, adding fruit and vegetable matter when small prey becomes harder to find. A fox raiding a pumpkin patch is usually after the same soft, sugary pulp that attracts deer and raccoons, though foxes are less likely to target intact fruit than animals with stronger jaws.
Fox activity around pumpkins tends to increase in late fall as the animals build up fat reserves, similar to the seasonal pattern seen in groundhogs and squirrels.
15. Chipmunks
Eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) treat pumpkin seeds the way they treat acorns: as something worth stashing for later. Chipmunks will carry seeds away from a cracked-open pumpkin in their cheek pouches, storing them in underground burrows to eat throughout the colder months.
Because chipmunks are smaller and more cautious than squirrels, they usually wait until a pumpkin has already been opened by a larger animal before moving in to collect the seeds.
16. Moles
Eastern moles (Scalopus aquaticus) are almost entirely insectivorous, feeding on earthworms, grubs, and other soil invertebrates rather than plant matter directly. Moles rarely eat pumpkin flesh itself, but a pumpkin patch with soft, disturbed soil can attract moles hunting for the grubs and worms drawn to decomposing plant material nearby.
Gardeners who spot mole tunnels near their pumpkin vines are usually dealing with an insect problem underground rather than direct pumpkin damage. Moles fit into a broader category explored in this guide to animals that eat other animals, since their diet is almost entirely made up of other small creatures.
17. Voles
Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) are smaller, stockier relatives of mice that live in grassy tunnels near garden beds. Unlike moles, voles are largely herbivorous and will readily gnaw on pumpkin rind, roots, and stems at ground level, often girdling the base of a pumpkin vine in the process.
Vole damage is frequently mistaken for mouse activity, but voles tend to leave more extensive chewing along stems and the underside of fruit resting directly on soil.
18. Guinea pigs
Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) kept as pets can eat small amounts of fresh pumpkin as an occasional treat. According to guidance summarized by pet welfare organizations, both rabbits and guinea pigs can safely eat fresh pumpkin in small, moderate portions rather than as a regular staple.
Owners should avoid canned pumpkin pie filling or anything seasoned, since added sugar and spices are not suitable for a guinea pig’s sensitive digestive system. Plain, raw or steamed pumpkin flesh in small cubes is the safer option.
19. Hamsters
Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) can eat small amounts of pumpkin flesh and seeds, which many owners offer as an enrichment treat rather than a diet staple. Hamsters are natural hoarders, so a piece of pumpkin placed in their enclosure is often stuffed into cheek pouches before being eaten later.
As with other small pets, moderation matters, since pumpkin’s natural sugar content can cause digestive upset if it makes up too much of a hamster’s daily intake. This species is also featured in this roundup of animals that start with H.
20. Gerbils
Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) can eat small quantities of pumpkin flesh and seeds in the same moderate way hamsters and guinea pigs do. Gerbils are naturally adapted to arid environments and dry seed-based diets, so fresh, moisture-rich foods like pumpkin should only make up a small portion of what they eat.
Seeds in particular appeal to gerbils, since the species evolved eating a diet heavy in dry plant seeds in the wild.
Pro Tip: Always remove any paint, glitter, or wax residue from a carved pumpkin before offering it to small pets or backyard wildlife. Only plain, unseasoned pumpkin flesh and seeds are safe.
21. Pigs
The domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) is famously unfussy, and pumpkins are a well-known seasonal treat on many small farms. Pigs will eat the entire pumpkin, including the rind and seeds, often crushing it underfoot before rooting through the pieces.
Farmers frequently use surplus or unsold pumpkins as an inexpensive fall supplement for pig feed, since the fruit is high in moisture and provides an easy source of extra calories heading into winter.
22. Sheep
Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) can eat pumpkin flesh and seeds in moderation, and many small-scale farms offer leftover pumpkins as a seasonal supplement to hay and pasture. Sheep tend to eat around the tougher rind, favoring the softer interior first.
As with any treat outside a sheep’s normal forage-based diet, pumpkin should be offered in limited amounts alongside their usual feed. For more on how grazing animals like sheep are typically fed, see this overview of animals that eat hay.
23. Geese
Domestic geese, descended from the greylag goose (Anser anser), will peck at pumpkin flesh and seeds when given access to a broken-open fruit. Geese are primarily grazers that favor grasses and greens, so pumpkin tends to be an occasional supplement rather than a preferred food.
Flock owners sometimes offer chopped pumpkin as enrichment during the fall, mixing it in with the grass and grain geese already eat throughout the day.
24. Ducks
Domestic ducks, bred largely from the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), will eat softened pumpkin flesh and seeds without much hesitation. Ducks lack teeth but use their bills to tear off small pieces of soft pulp, making cooked or well-broken-down pumpkin easier for them to manage than a whole, hard fruit.
Seeds are a particular favorite among ducks, similar to the way many wild waterfowl seek out seed-rich foods heading into colder months.
25. Goats
Domestic goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) are notorious for eating almost anything placed in front of them, and pumpkins are no exception. Goats will chew through the rind, flesh, and seeds, and many farms use leftover pumpkins as an easy way to use up surplus produce after Halloween.
Goats are frequently mentioned alongside other barnyard animals known for eating pumpkins as a fall treat, a pattern that fits the broader list of animals that start with G.
Important Note: While many farm animals can safely eat pumpkin, always remove seeds from moldy or heavily decayed pumpkins before feeding livestock or pets, since decomposing produce can develop harmful mold and bacteria.
26. Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are highly adaptable omnivores, and zoos regularly offer them pumpkins as both a food source and enrichment activity. Fox News reports that squirrels aren’t the only animals that munch on the orange treats; elephants, chimpanzees, camels and goats, among others, have been known to eat them, sometimes snacking on leftover pumpkins donated to zoos.
Zookeepers often hide pumpkin pieces or stuff whole pumpkins with other foods to encourage natural foraging behavior in chimpanzees, turning a simple seasonal snack into mental stimulation for the animals.
27. Elephants
African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and their Asian relatives are among the largest animals known to eat pumpkins, and zoos frequently donate surplus Halloween pumpkins to elephant enclosures each fall. An adult elephant can crush and consume an entire pumpkin in a matter of minutes, using its trunk to manipulate the fruit before eating it whole.
Pumpkin donation events have become a seasonal tradition at many zoos and sanctuaries, giving elephants both a nutritional boost and enrichment as temperatures start to drop. It is a fitting bookend to a list that starts with squirrels stealing a single seed and ends with elephants finishing an entire pumpkin in one sitting.
| Animal | Pumpkin Parts Preferred | Typical Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Squirrels | Seeds first, then pulp and soft rind | Backyards, porches |
| Deer | Seeds, interior flesh, soft rind, leaves | Yards, gardens, fields |
| Raccoons | Flesh and seeds through carved openings | Porches, compost areas |
| Birds | Exposed seeds | Feeders, opened pumpkins |
| Chickens | Flesh and seeds | Coop runs, farms |
| Goats and pigs | Entire pumpkin, including rind | Small farms |
Whether the visitor is a squirrel stripping seeds off a porch step or an elephant crushing a whole pumpkin at feeding time, the same basic appeal drives the behavior: pumpkin flesh and seeds pack in moisture, fat, and calories right when many animals are preparing for winter or simply looking for an easy meal. Leftover pumpkins do not have to go straight into the trash after Halloween; broken into pieces and left in a yard, compost pile, or barn, they can feed everything from backyard birds to full-grown livestock without much extra effort.