We’re officially in October. While some spooky season enthusiasts may have already started decorating for Halloween last month, this is the time that most of us get around to it. As you’re planning the festivities, though, wildlife officials are gently reminding you to be aware of one item that can be harmful to deer.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife recently posted a picture on social media of a deer with its head caught in a plastic pumpkin bucket, something that often happens when the handle wraps around their ears.

The post says, “Without fail, every year, we see a scene like this: a deer with a plastic Halloween pumpkin on its head. We'd appreciate it if you kept these pumpkins indoors, but if they are part of your outdoor spooky spread, please snip the black 'handles' from them.

“An ounce of prevention goes a long way here. There are very few 'good' options for tranquilizing, netting or otherwise capturing a wild deer.”

The issue has been ongoing for some time. In 2017, a similar incident made the news in Northeast Ohio. Neighbors said they’d spent more than a week trying to get a buck loose from a plastic pumpkin. They had been afraid to call wildlife officials because they didn’t want him to be put down.

At the time, wildlife officials said that would only happen if the animal was suffering.

Around the same time, neighbors in Cincinnati were able to free a deer in a similar situation, but officials warn against handling it yourself, as doing so can quickly become dangerous.

The plastic pumpkins aren’t the only hazardous Halloween decoration. Spider webs and items with small holes or loops can also entangle wildlife.