MUSEUM CAMPUS — Deck the halls with...plush carnivorous reptiles?
The Field Museum is hoping Chicagoans and other visitors will do just that with their "Adopt a T. rex" program. Launched earlier this year, the program allows users to "adopt" out a plush Tyrannosaurus rex that can be shipped online or directly from the museum gift shop.
The museum has already shipped out 1,150 dinosaurs since spring 2012, but hopes the furry predators will catch on as shoppers look to long-distance gift-giving.
Included in the T. rex's carrier crate is a fact sheet with care instructions (T. rex needs a high-protein diet and regular teeth-brushing to keep his chompers in top shape), and access to the museum's exclusive member's nights, which include behind-the-scenes tours of operations.
Emily Waldren, a spokesperson for the museum, can personally vouch for their effectiveness. She sent a T. rex to her nephew earlier this year for his birthday, and "got a little thank you note saying that he's brushing his teeth every night to make sure his T. rex doesn't get cavities," she said.
The package costs $43 including shipping, $20 of which is tax-deductible, and funds museum operations, Waldren said.
For some, the dinosaur is already bringing holiday cheer.
"MY MOM SENT ME A T-REX IN THE MAIL FROM THE FIELD MUSEUM IN CHICAGO," @AudreyHackler tweeted Monday, along with a photo.
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