Elephants to stomp giant pumpkins at Oregon Zoo’s annual Squishing of the Squash

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The Oregon Zoo’s largest land mammals will devour some of the region’s biggest pumpkins for the annual Squishing of the Squash event on Oct. 17.

The Zoo’s Asian elephants have enjoyed the annual pumpkin feast for the past 26 years. Steve Lefave, who oversees the zoo’s elephant exhibit, recommends that guests arrive half an hour early to watch the popular feeding.

“We’ll be giving our elephant family some extra-large pumpkins to stomp on and chomp on,” Lefave said. “First they destroy them, then they enjoy them.”

This year’s pumpkin feeding will include an 800-pounder, which the zoo has jokingly nicknamed “gourdzilla.” The pumpkins for the 2024 Squishing of the Squash were grown by Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Club member Larry Nelson and his daughter Amanda Gilmour.

“The tradition dates back to 1999, when Hoffman’s Dairy Garden of Canby dropped off a prize-winning 828-pound pumpkin for the elephant family,” the Oregon Zoo said. “Farmers often offered their overstock pumpkins for use in the zoo’s groundbreaking animal enrichment efforts — enhancing animals’ well-being with stimulating and challenging environments, objects and activities.”

The event marks the beginning of the zoo’s annual Halloween celebration. On Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27, kids are encouraged to visit the zoo in their Halloween costumes.

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