UTICA, N.Y. — Animals at the Utica Zoo are enjoying a post-holiday celebration with a special treat this weekend.
Candella’s Farm and Greenhouses in Marcy donated Christmas trees to the zoo, which are being repurposed to provide seasonal enrichment for the animals. Zoo officials said the taste, texture and smell of the trees offer an opportunity for the animals to get active and connect with their natural instincts.
“We like to give our animals all different kinds of enrichment here at the zoo,” said Utica Zoo’s Assistant General Curator Cari Camizzi. “Different things to keep them stimulated, so we use a lot of different toys, scents, things to keep them engaged. It’s really unique that we have a bunch of Christmas trees, cuz we only get to do this once a year.”
More Christmas trees will be given to the animals on Sunday.
Â