CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The holidays have come and gone, and now it time when people are thinking about recycling their Christmas trees.
With more than 650 of its own trees to recycle, the animal care staff at Brookfield Zoo repurpose some and provide them to the animals for enrichment. The remaining trees are mulched by the grounds crew and used in landscaping the flower beds around the park.
This week, the bison and reindeer seemed to enjoy rubbing their horns and antlers, respectively, in the trees, and even flipping them into the air.
Hudson, one of the zoo’s polar bears, along with 4-year-old African lions Brutus and Titus, received tasty nutritious treats, including bones, meat, or vegetables hidden amongst the trees’ branches.
Brookfield Zoo is currently closed to guests through Feb. 28. However, the public can still stay connected to the animals by tuning in to the zoo’s “Bringing the Zoo to You” Facebook Live chats on weekdays at 11 a.m.
Brookfield Zoo is scheduled to reopen on March 1.