We’re all about cute animals smashing pumpkins (not the band) this week

Despite all my rage it is the start of the workweek, but believe in me as I believe in you, watching animals smash some pumpkins is incredibly satisfying for the stress levels. So let’s make today the greatest with these critters enjoying a fall treat, and thanks to Kehl on our Discord for the initial inspiration! Happy Monday, Watchers.

We’re kicking off with the Oregon Zoo’s most recent “Squishing of the Squash” — an annual event they’ve been sharing on their YouTube channel for almost 20 years. Of course, the other zoo residents had to get in on the fun; even their sweet new elephant Tula-Tu got to participate with an appropriately sized pumpkin. Now, the zoo does not have a dedicated annual squash squish playlist, but you can definitely jump to this curated playlist of 11 of the zoo’s event videos to keep scratching that pumpkin mashing itch!

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The Virginia Zoo’s annual Zoo Boo is a weekend family-friendly Halloween event (also a common event title across many zoos which gets confusing), where guests can enjoy trick-or-treat candy stations, compete in costume contests, and of course, enjoy the animals’ pumpkin enrichment! From the littlest meerkats to the lions, tiger, and bears (oh my), everyone gets to enjoy the squash action and now, you can too with this video from their 2012 event. Bonus — there’s an extended edition!

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Now, the Detroit Zoo restricts the pathways for the current incarnation of their Zoo Boo (which runs in the late afternoon/evening) for the animal’s well-being, but in past years the animals were part of the fun! Animals would benefit from the surplus of pumpkins acquired for ZooBoo with dedicated “Smashing Pumpkins” days. Enjoy the full gamut of zoo residents demolishing their treat-laden gourds.

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Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo recently joined their Saint Louis counterparts with some new Amur leopard cubs, but it’s the larger animals outdoors that get to enjoy the Fall fun. Their annual Boo at the Zoo even includes a schedule of what days and times animals get to enjoy their own pumpkins, so visitors can plan ahead — A+ inclusion, Brookfield. This video is from 2018 but the animal fun is just as real.

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Last but certainly not least is the Dallas Zoo! Now, this is one of the few that doesn’t appear to host any Fall-specific events, but that hasn’t stopped past animals from celebrating the seasonal bounty of pumpkins as this 2017 videos shows. Now, while all the animals are just straight up adorable, my favorite is probably the hippo just chomping down on the pumpkin like it’s nothing, then later having a “hey, come back” face when it rolls away. Hopefully the tradition is still going on so their new baby giraffe will get to enjoy rolling a gourd.

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BONUS — YouTube channel ZooBorns has a 23 minute compilation of animals enjoying their “pumpkin-richment” at various zoos in 2022. Enjoy!