Missouri’s Department of Conservation wants your old Christmas trees

Want to give one last Christmas gift this year? Hand over your old Christmas tree to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The MDC is taking cut trees, without the decorations of course, so that they can be submerged in lakes and ponds to be used as habitats for fish and wildlife.

“Submerged Christmas trees make great underwater cover for smaller fish and aquatic invertebrates,” said MDC Fisheries Biologist Brian McKeage. “Larger fish then congregate around these structures to prey on fish and other food sources, so these trees become hotspots for fish, and for anglers.”

The department is accepting trees any time of day through the end of January.

The drop-off site is at the MDC Central Regional Office located at 3500 E. Gans Road in Columbia.

Trees may also be dropped off at city mulch sites in Columbia or may simply be placed under bird feeders in your backyard to provide cover for birds and other wildlife.

For more information, call (573) 815-7900, or stop in to the MDC Central Regional Office during normal business hours.