Preventing animal access to them would be the best approach. If that isn't anyway possible then I'd at least harvest any that have well dried stems. They will store for a while at least.

The rest, especially the green ones need to remain if you can come up with any possible solution - even an inverted 5 gallon bucket over them if nothing else.

Otherwise you might as well pick and compost them.

Dave

I often eat immature winter squash, they can be surprisingly good, prepared like summer squash when the rinds are still palatable.

Sure, you can eat them, they just won't store any longer than zucchini. They're good grilled.

Thanks. I will leave them on the vines as long as possible. Also, the issue of wiping/washing with a bleach solution is on my mind. Carol Deppe doesn't bother, others swear by it and some say it makes the squash decay even faster. Any thoughts?