Wildlife center animals fill up on fair produce

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Some lucky animals at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center enjoyed a nutritious feast Sunday, courtesy of the Alaska State Fair. The same giant produce that was featured at the fair was fed to the animals as part of a new partnership between the center and the fair.

The center received truckloads of donated giant cabbages, zucchinis, turnips, radishes and gourds. On Sunday afternoon, workers at the center stocked a flatbed pickup truck, which was driven into the bear enclosure.

Huge treats will be dished out to the other animals, and extra cabbages will be served to the moose and bison. Workers at the center say visitors seem happy to see the same produce they saw at the fair last week go to good use.

“We hope to do this for many years to come -- I think it’s a good program, and I think I'd like to put some pictures of the animals eating the produce out at the State Fair next summer. So people can ahead of time, see what’s going to happen to that giant cabbage or giant carrot,” said the center’s Kelly Miller.

The center feeds animals daily for visitors to see.