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CASWELL COUNTY, N.C. — The animals at the Conservators' Center were quite restless Saturday.

But they they all had a good reason to be excited. They were about to get their late Christmas present of leftover Christmas trees. The Conservators' Center is a non-profit wildlife rescue facility. It houses 97 animals, 33 of which are lions and tigers.

"Large cats are hugely responsive to pine scent. Kind of the way that domestic cats respond to cat nip. And so when they get the trees they smell good, they're interesting to play with so they tussle with them and have a really fun time. And the crowds enjoy watching these lions and tigers just behave like little kittens," said Julia Wagner, with the Conservators' Center.

This is the second year the Tree Toss has opened to the public.

"It's been amazing the reaction we've had from the public this year. We've had two separate dates and both have sold out. The funds that we raise during these events, they're going to help our animals which is a huge benefit to them," said Wagner.

Some visitors to the center came out for both weekends of the event.

"It was so exciting and so fun I had to come back again. Plus I went on their website, which is great and I was able to read the history of the cats, each individual cat. The conditions they were in, the awful conditions. So this is like a happy ending story because then you get to come here and see the great shape their in and where they live so it's great," said Raleigh resident Carol Yirka.

Organizers plan to continue with the annual event.

Learn more about The Conservators' Center