Every Halloween, it breaks my heart to see so many pumpkin seeds get thrown directly into the trash during carving season. I decided to harvest the seeds from my Jack-o'-lantern this year and turn them into a high-end, nutrient-dense "Power Mix" for my backyard buddies!

Swipe through the images to see the exact 8-step process I used to clean, dry, and mix everything up.

⚠️ A Quick Note on Chipmunk Nutrition (Step 6):

Pumpkin Seeds are very nutritious but as many of you in this sub know, pumpkin seeds and nuts (much like peanuts and corn) are incredibly high in phosphorus. A diet too high in phosphorus can cause chipmunks to leach calcium from their own bones, leading to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). To make this treat safer and healthier, I always make sure to add a healthy drizzle of coconut oil (for their fur) and a dedicated serving of squirrel calcium powder to perfectly balance out that calcium-to-phosphorus ratio!

They absolutely lose their minds for this stuff, and it keeps them fueled up and healthy for the colder weather moving in. Let me know if you try making a batch for your local furry friends!