Donate Tree Branches & Nuts
Zoo animals love snacking on branches, twigs and tender shoots. Plus, bears enjoy eating nuts. By donating your these items, you can help support their well-being.
*Please ensure that any branches and/or nuts have NOT been sprayed with any chemicals or pesticides.
How to Donate Tree Branches:
Please call or email two days before cutting to schedule your browse (tree branches) delivery. 865-637-5331 x1280 or [email protected]. Someone will contact you as soon as possible to make arrangements. We kindly ask that you do not bring unscheduled deliveries.
Unfortunately we cannot pick up browse, all donations must to be scheduled and delivered to the zoo. We can accept the following:
• Bradford Pear
• Common Hackberry
• Honeysuckle (not in berry as they are toxic)
• Silver Maple
• Sugar Maple
• Willow
• Grapevine
• Mulberry
• Banana Leaf
• Tulip Poplar
• Dogwood
• Eastern Redbud
• Elm
• Hickory
• Mimosa
• Ash
• Box Elder
How to Donate Nuts:
We accept hard mast (native tree nut) donations! Chestnuts, walnuts and pecans can be donated in their husks, but if possible, we would love for them to be de-husked.
Please bring donations to the ranger station for drop off and tell rangers you have nuts for the bears. We will take it from there! We can accept the following:
• Acorns (most wanted)
• Chestnuts
• Hickory nuts
• Walnuts
• Pecans