Christmas has come and gone, and it's once again time to somehow dispose of that cripspity, crunchity tree you bought just last month. If you were thinking about just leaning that evergreen monolith over the curb, there is a way for it to continue to bring joy.

You can give your tree a second life at the Ellen Trout Zoo. The animals just love to caress those brittle branches with their scales, hair, and feathers.

The zoo uses them for enrichment in the animals' enclosures, and they play in and around them for hours. They want your tree, but only certain conifers make the cut.

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Bring Your Christmas Tree To The Ellen Trout Zoo In Lufkin, Texas

The animals love to smell, scratch, and pull these trees apart, so that is why the zoo has to be super specific about the types of trees that they take.

The tree must be natural and unaltered. What does that mean?

First of all, it must be a real tree. Don’t take your pre-lit Hobby Lobby special to the zoo. No tinseled or flocked trees are allowed, and they do not take wreaths either.

See More: Elves Are On The Loose At Ellen Trout Zoo

Think Of the Ellen Trout Zoo This Holiday Season

The weather is cooperating and when it's not raining, it is fairly nice outside. Take an outing to the Ellen Trout Zoo and see the new baby giraffe. They are open every day from 10 am - 5 pm.

Just remember to throw that old tree in the back of the truck before you head that way. Stop by the admission office and let them know you have a tree, and they will direct you to someone to take the tree.

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