'Animals have grown tired of them': Topeka Zoo says no more pumpkins

TOPEKA (KSNT) - With spooky season over, and pumpkins well past their shelf lives, the Topeka Zoo says their animals have grown tired of them.

The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center regularly accepts pumpkins following Halloween for animal enrichment. Animals at the Topeka Zoo use the pumpkins in a variety of ways. Elephants eat the pumpkins, bears break them open before eating them and tigers play with them like a ball.

"We are past the season for pumpkins, while we appreciate everyone thinking of us, the pumpkins shelf life is now past," Topeka Zoo spokeswoman Fawn Moser said. "The animals have grown tired of them."

While the zoo is no longer seeking pumpkins, Moser said they will soon be accepting trees after the holidays. The zoo typically uses old Christmas trees to benefit lions, tigers, owls, mountain lions, giraffes, black bears, painted dogs and more. After animals have had their fun with the trees, they will be ground into mulch for reuse.

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