Have you ever wondered what happens to giant pumpkins that are grown for competition? While some win prizes, others just lay on their sides, and they won't fit into a stew pot. Besides, they don't make good pies. In Portland, they make good use of them. Recently, Larry Nelson and Jacob Baldridge of the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Club took a load of giant pumpkins to the Oregon Zoo for the annual ritual called the Squishing of the Squash. Every year since 1999, the zoo welcomes the shipment of fall gourds for the elephants, who have their way with the pumpkins. "First, they destroy them, then they enjoy them," <a href="https://katu.com/news/local/oregon-zoo-elephants-smash-massive-pumpkins-at-annual-squishing-of-the-squash" alt="elephant keeper Dimas Dominguez said" class="on">elephant keeper Dimas Dominguez said</a>.

This year's pumpkin shipment included one that weighed 650 pounds! The elephants made short work of them, digging in with a satisfying crunch. The excess produce provides the pachyderms with an enrichment experience and added nutrition. A trick with a treat, so it seems.&nbsp;See more <a href="https://www.neatorama.com/tag/squishing-of-the-squash/">Squishing of the Squash videos</a> from previous years.&nbsp;#elephant #pumpkin #OregonZoo #squishingofthesquash

Elephants vs. Giant Pumpkins

We can't help but be thrilled about celebrating and decorating our homes as Halloween approaches. However, it appears that humans aren't the only ones who are looking forward to Halloween.A surveillance camera caught <a href="https://abc7.com/bears-in-canada-bear-sighting-steals-pumpkin/11104074/">a local grizzly bear from Canada munching on a pair of pumpkins.</a> The bear decided that it wanted to eat some pumpkins that had been used as decorations outside the house, so it took them out and attempted to flee with another pumpkin. It couldn't grab it with its paws or mouth, unfortunately.As a result, after repeated efforts, it gave up and abandoned the pumpkin.Image by: Ashley Larose #PorchThief #Halloween #Bear #Pumpkin #Canada