Donated Christmas trees make new homes and hiding spots for recovering animals

If you're wonderingwhat to do withthat dried up Christmas tree, you can give it a second life by donating it to an Edmonton-area wildlife rehabilitation centre.

WILDNorth is taking donations of real Christmas trees for the animals they're housing over the winter months while the various creaturesrecover from injury.

"They can use some enrichment," Dale Gienow, WILDNorth's rescue manager, told CBC's Radio Active Tuesday. "It gets pretty boring, looking at the same four walls every day."

The trees offer shelter forsome of the smaller mammals while acting as alternative perch spots for birds.

"Some of our gnawing creatures having that material to chew on and work their teeth helps them to keep their teeth in good condition," Gienow said.

The trees also act as a bit of a mental health support for the animals. "You can imagine being cooped up in the same space, not being able to go outside for a long period of time," Gienow said. "[The trees keep] their minds busy at a time where they're recovering."

In 2017, WILDNorth took in about 20 per cent more animals than they did the previous year. The donated trees will help their increased population feel a bit more comfortable while they recover.

"It's a great way to recycle the trees," Gienow said. "And it helps them out."

Donations of real, undecorated trees, under eight feet tall, can be dropped off at the WILDNorthrehab centre, about 10 minutes west of Edmonton, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

Listen toRadio Activewith hostPortia Clark, weekday afternoons on CBC Radio One, 93.9 FM/740 AM in Edmonton. Follow the show on Twitter:@CBCRadioActive.