It’s that time of year, with Halloween just around the corner, that homes and businesses set up decorations with pumpkins, ghosts, corn stalks and more.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has asked that those planning to join the fun take a moment before purchasing supplies or decorating outside to consider if the display could attract or harm wildlife.

It can be as simple as being aware that pumpkins, gourds, potted plants and flowers may bring deer, squirrels, birds and other animals to your property, Rachel Lincoln, a wildlife outreach coordinator with the DNR Wildlife Division, said in a news release.

She also recommended not using paint, bleach or other chemicals on pumpkins because those substances can be harmful to wildlife that eat the pumpkins.

It’s a matter of taking a few extra precautions.

“Be sure your decorations are clean and scent-free,” Lincoln said in the news release. “Every October we get reports of wildlife with Halloween candy buckets or decorations stuck on their heads or feet from trying to reach the sweets that were inside. It’s easy to prevent this by cleaning up candy wrappers or spills around outdoor decorations and not placing food-related decor that might lure animals.”

Other tips for wildlife-safe decorations include —

— Be cautious with fake cobwebs and string lights. Placing these decorations over bushes or between trees can accidentally entangle bats and birds flying through. Position these items away from natural flight paths or wildlife habitats to reduce the risk.

— After the holidays are done and the displays ready to come down, check decorations for any small critters that may have used them as shelter, such as birds, squirrels or insects, to ensure you don’t accidentally trap or harm them.