Four legged trick or treaters could be popping up on door steps.

A few seasonal factors could be contributing to the increase in deer sightings around Okotoks.

Christa Michailuck, parks manager with the Town of Okotoks, says it's rut season for the animals and they may be more likely to show aggression, so it's important to make sure people aren't unintentionally attracting them to their yards.

Michailuck says jack o' lanterns make for an appealing snack.

"Urban deer are oportunisitic so they're going to go where the food sources are and pumpkins being left out around Halloween is a great food source for deer." she says. "If you are displaying pumpkins preferably display them inside your window or maybe on your porch for a short duration that evening."

Michailuck says residents can take other preventative measures from attracting the deer like removing any tasty treats left on the ground from crab apple trees.

"The town's been phasing out crab apple trees since 2008," she says. "We don't allow developers to plant more than 3% of the trees they're putting in new neighbourhoods to be fruit trees. As we replace crab apple trees that die or get hit by cars around town we use alternate species."

Bird feeders can also be big attractors as the bird seed is an easy, high calorie food for deer. It's recommended feeders are placed in a location high up where deer can't reach it or access any remnants that can fall from it.