Woodland Park Zoo offers popular 'Zoo Doo' compost for your garden

SEATTLE -- It feels like spring is in the air.

And so is the pungent aroma of Woodland Park’s "Zoo Doo."

This week, the zoo kicked off its annual spring "Fecal Fest," where it sells the popular poop and much-desired dung from animals like giraffes, hippos, warthogs, zebras and mountain goats.

The steam visibly coming off the big piles are due to the beneficial microbes that are so good for your garden.

The stuff's in such great demand, they hold a lottery for those interested.

"I'm not saying your tomatoes will be as big as a hippo or your corn will be as tall as a giraffe, but your neighbors will be envious and so will your dog,” said Dan Corum, who serves as the zoo’s compost and recycling coordinator, but is also well-known in these parts as “Dr. Doo.”

Zoo Doo will be available in five, ten, 25 and 50 gallon containers, and ready for pick up in April.

“It’s a locally-produced, recycled and re-purposed resource here in the northwest.  We take animal manure, wood chips and leaves to make a beautiful compost that is good-smelling that adds fecundity, fertility and fun to your garden,” Corum said.

To get in on the lottery, go to the zoo's website, at zoo.org.