Are you curious about what animals eat Pumpkins? Well, you’d be surprised at which animals love them. Below is a list of animals you might not think are Pumpkin lovers.
Pumpkins are very healthy food for both humans and animals. A little-known fact is they are technically classified as a fruit. This fruit is very healthy and contains high amounts of vitamins such as Vitamins A and C. It is also a powerful digestive aid and can improve gut health and other health issues such as constipation.
Most people enjoy Pumpkins whether it’s in the form of pie, soup, etc. But what animals eat pumpkins? Well, you would be surprised at how many do. Birds will typically go for the seeds while larger animals will indulge in the thick rine.
1. Bears
These big eaters most certainly do enjoy Pumpkins. This is convenient since Pumpkin is a fall crop that is perfect for Bears to fill up on before they begin hibernation in the winter.
A bear will eat an estimated 90 pounds of food per day in preparation for hibernation. When it comes time to take that long nap, a bear will weigh around 1000lb-1200lbs.
2. Deer
Do Deer Eat Pumpkins? Deer are herbivores and sustain themselves on a variety of leaves, fruit, twigs, nuts, and YES Pumpkin! Unfortunately, this is bad news for gardeners as Deer are known to do morning raids on pumpkin patches. Even with fences in place, they can usually jump over them. The good news is they are very shy and can be easily repelled if they are being pesky.
3. Moose
One animal that surprisingly loves Pumpkin is the Moose. Found mostly in North America, these enormous creatures can be found foraging through the forest looking for wild Pumpkins and other winter Squash. Once found they use their extremely powerful jaws to tear through the fruit.
A fun fact about Moose is they are part of the Deer family who as we previously mentioned love Pumpkin as well.
4. Squirrels
The Squirrel is no stranger to Pumpkins as a seasonal treat. They use their sharp teeth to gradually gnaw through the rine. Once they’re through the rine they’ve unveiled their favorite part, the seeds.
Nuts and seeds are a major part of a Spirrel’s diet and provide them with much of their nutrition. Pumpkin seeds are high in antioxidants, iron, zinc, and magnesium.
5. Cows
Who would have thought Cows enjoy Pumpkins? Well, they certainly do. Most often found on farms Cows are not limited to only eating grass and grain. Farmers are known to feed them various crops grown on their farms. Among these crops is the Pumpkin. The Pumpkin aids in Cow’s digestion, and when you have four stomachs this is very important.
6. Goats
Goats are known to eat just about anything. And yes they do eat Pumpkins. Goats can find Pumpkins both in the wild and on the farms they are raised on. Their incredibly strong jaws and sharp teeth have little trouble penetrating the orange flesh of the fruit. Goats also enjoy the leaves of vines of the Pumpkin, so be careful with them around your Pumpkin Patch.
7. Rabbits
Both wild rabbits and domesticated rabbits enjoy Pumpkin. They will typically use their sharp teeth to gnaw through the outer rine of the Pumpkin until it reaches the inside of the Pumpkin where seeds and pulpy deliciousness await. If you have a pet rabbit and some leftover Pumpkin consider treating it with some.
8. Raccoons
Often described as a scavenger Animal Raccoons eat everything from bugs, to fruit, to leftover garbage. If a Pumpkin comes across its path it will most certainly indulge in it. With that being said it’s not a Raccoons favorite option, they’d be happier with some leftover hotdogs found in a trashcan.
9. Groundhogs
The Groundhog (also known as the Woodchuck) will eat Pumpkin when they stumble upon them in the wild. These Marmots are known for storing food in their large cheeks as well as hiding food underground and inside trees. It wouldn’t be uncommon for them to stockpile Pumpkin seeds in one of their secret food storage locations.
10. Horses
Another surprising animal on our list of Animals that eat Pumpkins is the horse. These hoofed mammals use their sharp teeth and strong jaws to chew through Pumpkins. Pumpkin is great for their digestion and provides them with several key nutrients they need.
11. Chickens
When you think of chickens you probably don’t associate them with eating Pumpkins, but these birds do enjoy Pumpkins. A chicken will peck at the outside of a Pumpkin or eat the seeds if they are exposed from the inside. These are just one of the surprising foods chickens enjoy. Other foods they enjoy include bugs, worms, and even mice!
12. Possum
Many falsely believe the Opossum is a rodent. The truth is it is a Marsupial. In fact, it is the only Native Marsupial to the United States. These misunderstood creatures eat a variety of foods that include bugs, ticks, berries, and yes Pumpkin.
13. Rats
Rats are rodents that eat a wide variety of things found in the wild as well as in people’s homes. And they will gladly chew on Pumpkin. In fact, it is very healthy for them. If you have a pet rat you feed him Fresh Pumpkin or buy them specially formulated Pumpkin treats from your local pet store.
14. Guinea Pigs
Can Guinea Pigs eat Pumpkin? The answer is yes, they do enjoy it, however, it doesn’t offer them a ton of nutrition so it should be limited to a treat. They will eat both Pumpkin flesh and Pumpkin seeds. If you don’t have any fresh Pumpkin to offer them consider buying them a bag of Pumpkin flavored treats. These can be found through websites such as petco.com.
15. Porcupine
The Porcupine is a less common animal to spot in most parts of the world. So what do they eat? They will eat Pumpkin, in addition to various other foods such as nuts, berries, and bugs.
16. Turtles
Do Turtles Eat Pumpkins? They most certainly do, in fact, they are big fans of Pumpkins. Because they have such strong jaws they are easily able to penetrate and chew through Pumpkin. If you have some extra pumpkins leftover from Halloween consider offering them to a turtle.
17. Pigs
Pigs have gained a reputation for eating tremendous amounts of almost anything. Hence the term “Eating like a pig”. Among these foods they “Pig out on” is the Pumpkin. Pigs have very sharp teeth and strong jaws that can easily chew through even the thickest Pumpkin. It’s not uncommon for Pig farmers to throw Pumpkins in their pens as a treat. It is also believed by Farmers to aid their digestion.
18. Hippos
The absolute Behemoth that is the Hippo makes quick work of Pumpkins. A little-known fact is that the Hippo has the strongest bite of all land animals. They boast a shocking 1820 PSI in their bite, which is enough to absolutely crush a Pumpkin. So this is one of the more impressive animals on the list of what animals eat Pumpkins.
19. Gorillas
Obviously only found in Zoos in most parts of the world, the Gorilla does eat pumpkins when they are available. It’s common during Fall time for zookeepers to feed them pumpkins as a treat. Onlookers can observe them munching on the orange delight. As far as Gorillas in the wild go, it is less common for them to find Pumpkins. Because certain African climates they are home in are not native to wild Pumpkins.
20. Elephants
Do Elephants eat Pumpkins. Surprisingly enough Elephants do enjoy eating Pumpkins. They also have a unique strategy for opening them. The Elephant will use its enormous size to crush the Pumpkin with its feet and then feast on the obliterated flesh. This is another animal that will have a hard time finding Pumpkins in the wild, but most zoos will feed them Pumpkins during October and Fall.
21. Sheep
Lastly on our list of “What Animals Eat Pumpkins”, we have the sheep. Both wild sheep and farm sheep are known to eat Pumpkins. Farmers who raise sheep and grow pumpkins are known to feed them Pumpkins when available. This is a seasonal treat for them and is also very healthy. Sheep have surprisingly large appetites and can go through multiple Pumpkins in one day.
