Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree with KY Fish and Wildlife

It's not quite time to take down your real Christmas tree unless you want to, but when you do, you have an option that will help wildlife in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is collecting real trees at 39 locations across the state for its "Christmas for the Fishes" program.

Here is how "Christmas for the Fishes" works:

Donated trees must be free of all lights, tinsel, ornaments, and other decorations. Limbs, wreaths, or other brush are not encouraged for donation.

The closest drop-off location for the local WBKR listening area is the Northwest District Fisheries Office in Calhoun in McLean County. See the complete list of drop-off sites and contact information HERE. Note, sites are open during daylight hours and they are not staffed.

The practice not only gives use to discarded Christmas trees, but it also adds food sources and protective cover for Kentucky's aquatic species. Anglers have reported higher catch rates for crappie and bass due to the natural tree supplements.

Tree collections will continue through mid-January.