Snopes Debunker - Is Bleaching a Pumpkin Harmful to Wildlife?

Bleached Halloween Pumpkin Post Sparks Vitriolic, Misinformed Backlash ​ It’s the spookiest time of year, and the internet has been filling up with suggestions for making the most out of this Halloween season. A few weeks back, one Facebook user shared this tip:  “Did you know if you give your pumpkins a bleach bath (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) they will last much longer into the season? It kills all of the mold and fungus that causes them to rot. Happy fall!" Since publishing the post on Sept. 26, Nancy Lucchesi has been inundated with hundreds of hateful messages and posts from strangers, accusing her of posting information that could harm critters that may eat bleach-treated pumpkins.  But is bleaching a pumpkin actually harmful to wildlife in any way? And if not, why did strangers keep piling on hate for this post? Snopes’ Bethania Palma has the answers. ​Read More Fact Checks Did These Democrats Not Wear Masks at Barrett’s Hearing? Photographs can be misleading, especially if you don't know when they were taken. ❌ Miscaptioned Did Amy Coney Barrett Say “Being Called the N-Word Does Not Constitute a Hostile Work Environment”? Barrett wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel in 2019 that upheld the dismissal of a workplace discrimination lawsuit by a Black employee who claimed he was called a racial slur by a supervisor. ✅❌ Mixture Did a Fly Land on Amy Coney Barrett? As far as we can tell, the fly is an apolitical creature. ❌ False Are Crab Cake Oreos Real? If you can delay vomiting long enough, we will tell you. ❌ False Did US Unemployment Reach Record Low Due to Trump? The Trump campaign alleged pre-COVID-19 unemployment rates were evidence that he could jumpstart the pandemic-stricken economy. ❌ Mostly False Does a Video Show Baby Giraffes Frolicking in a Park? A baby giraffe weighs about 150 pounds and stands about 6 feet tall. ❌ False View Latest Fact Checks We Can’t Do This Without You Make a contribution today and help ensure Snopes.com endures — and grows. $10 $50 $100 $250 View more options News Investigating the ‘Truth About Breonna Taylor’ Meme Fabricated criminal activities, distorted employment history, and conflicting reports emerged after the police shooting of a Black woman in Kentucky. Read More First Lady: Barron Trump Positive for COVID, No Symptoms The White House initially said he had tested negative, after both of his parents tested positive. Read More After Independent Coronavirus Test, NBC Sets Trump Town Hall The announcement sets up dueling events with Democratic opponent Joe Biden, who will appear in a town hall on ABC, on a night the two candidates were supposed to meet for their second debate. Read More Study: Health Systems, Govt Responses Linked to Virus Tolls The study published in Nature Medicine modeled "excess mortality" in 19 European countries, New Zealand, and Australia to compare the effectiveness of counter-measures. Read More A Look at Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Notable Opinions, Votes Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, has written roughly 100 opinions in more than three years on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Read More

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