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CLEVELAND, GA. (AP) -- Instead of hauling Christmas trees away for disposal, people can give them to the North Georgia Zoo.

Zoo owner Hope Bennett says the trees make great toys and treats for animals.

Bennett says monkeys become entranced with pulling at the bark and will do it for hours.

She says farm animals will pull the needles off the trees and then chew at the branches, and pine trees are a natural dewormer for livestock and help keep them healthy.

The zoo's cougar will toss a tree around like a toy, and parrots will pick at chopped up pieces.

Bennett says the trees are thrown into the habitats whole, and at the end of the winter, zoo keepers pull out what's left.

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