Woodland Park Zoo’s annual poop event is here. The Spring Fecal Fest means it’s time for local gardeners to enter their bid to purchase the highly coveted Zoo Doo or Bedspread that Dr. Doo has been piling all winter.

Zoo Doo is the most exotic and highly prized compost in the Pacific Northwest, perfect for vegetables and annuals, composed of exotic species feces contributed by the zoo’s non-primate herbivores. Bedspread, the zoo’s premium composted mulch, is like Zoo Doo but with higher amounts of wood chips and sawdust. It’s the perfect mulch for perennial beds and woody landscapes such as native gardens, rose beds, shrubs, tree rings or pathways.

But not everyone can buy this compost, only winners of a drawing can.

To purchase Zoo Doo or Bedspread, gardeners should send in a postcard before March 18 to be considered for the drawings. For Zoo Doo, the postcard should be marked “Zoo Doo.” For Bedspread, postcards should be marked “B.S.” Only one postcard per person is eligible for each drawing. Entry cards will be selected randomly for as many entrants possible. Dr. Doo will personally contact the lucky drawn entries.

Pick-up dates for Zoo Doo or Bedspread begin April 8 through April 24. The lucky winners load the compost, using shovels provided by the zoo.

Participants should send a standard postcard to Dr. Doo, Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103 and include their name, day and evening phone numbers, Preference of compost (Zoo Doo or Bedspread), amount of Zoo Doo or Bedspread they'd like to purchase, and weekday or weekend preference for pick-up.

Compost prices:
Zoo Doo and Bedspread: Pick-up truck 8x4 bed: $60; 6x4 bed: $45; 6x3 bed: $35. Limit one full truck per person. Garbage cans: $8 to $10 depending on size; bags: $4 to $6 depending on size. Two-gallon and pint-sized buckets are available anytime at the ZooStore for $14.95 and $4.95, respectively.

For more information, call the Poop Line at 206.625.POOP or visit the zoo’s website at www.zoo.org.