A Note from the Zoo Director

Hello Everyone!

It took 100 years, but we're ready for our Centennial Celebration on June 25th! Join us from 11-3 as we reflect on the Zoo's history and just how far animal care and welfare has come since 1922. We'll welcome special guests, a birthday cake bake-off with six local bakeries, listen to wonderful live music, and enjoy STAR 99 who will be here for the day!

We have the Classic Rock band Lost Rebel at the party from noon to 1:30. They'll be playing '70s favorites from bands like Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Tom Petty and Credence Clearwater Revival. You won't want to miss it!

We're assembling a time capsule on June 25, too--to be opened in fifty years, on June 25, 2072. We'd love to have kids bring us their drawings with ideas for what life will be like in 50 years--we'll put a few in the capsule. Make sure their name and town is on their drawing so we can find them in 2072! Send them to us at [email protected].

We have so many talented photographers who take beautiful pictures of our animals, so I hope to see lots of entries in our fourth annual Photography Contest. This year's contest is being presented in honor of Kathy Brady, a talented photographer who loved coming to the Zoo. Kathy passed away after a brief illness, and we'll remember her by sharing a few of her favorite photos. We're also adding a Youth category, for photographers 16 and under!

Happy Father's Day to all fathers, grandfathers, and role models out there. Bring your dad or granddad to the Zoo--our African spurred tortoises have arrived for the summer! You'll find them eating watermelon and lettuce in front of the Greenhouse.

I'll see you at the Zoo!

Gregg Dancho

This Month at the Zoo!
Last Four Free Saturdays at the Zoo for Bridgeport Residents!

Every Saturday through June 25, 2022, the Zoo will be free to all Bridgeport residents as part of the Zoo's COOL BLUE Bridgeport program.? Join us for two FREE special programs at 11am and 2pm in the Zoo's Greenhouse every Saturday!

All guests MUST register online using the code COOLBLUE. Adults will need to show a photo ID proving Bridgeport residency (driver's license or Park City ID) upon arrival at the Zoo's Front Gate. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Learn More About Cool Blue Bridgeport

We're Having a Centennial Party - Save the Date: Saturday, June 25
We're having a party to celebrate our 100th Birthday! Join us on Saturday, June 25th for:

-A Birthday Cake Bake-Off

-Sneak Peek at this summer's live animal show

-Proclamations from the City of Bridgeport and the state

-Visits from area dignitaries

-"Win a Free Birthday Party" Contest

-Musical Entertainment on the Peacock Pavilion Stage

-Time Capsule/Tree Planting

Our Wild Wine, Beer & Food Safari Silent Auction is Live!

Our Silent Auction for our Wild Wine, Beer & Food Safari is live! Browse and bid on over 60 items including: Giants tickets, family baskets, gift certificates, and even overnight stays at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun! Because the auction is online, you do not need to be present to partake and win!

And it's not too late to join us for the biggest party of the year at the Zoo! We still have a few tickets remaining.

Thank you to our sponsors: Turnpike Spirit Shop, People's United, Aquarion, Liberty Bank, Stratford Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament, Keller Williams Realty Group, Diageo, IHSC, PKFOD

Buy Tickets & View Auction

Submissions for 4th Annual Photo Contest Begins June 6

The Zoo's Annual Photo Contest is open for submissions, an opportunity for the many dedicated photographers to submit their best work for public viewing. The contest, sponsored by Milford Photo, will combine digital submissions with an in-person exhibition. Photographers selected for the in-person exhibit will be asked to print and mat their photo (8 x 10). Submissions must be in by July 5. An in-person exhibition will be held on July 28 in the Hanson Building.

On Saturday, June 11, Milford Photo will sponsor a Photo Skills Walkabout from 11-2 with tips from Jack Bradley and a chance to try out Sigma lenses.

Photo Exhibit Info Here

Wild About Reading: We've Hidden 500 Prizes in 23 Area Libraries

On Saturday, June 18, children and their families are invited to selected area libraries to search through fiction and non-fiction books on bears in the children's book departments. Five hundred "Pots of Honey" tickets are hidden in books, offering "bear-y" exciting Zoo prizes from free admissions, memberships, carousel rides, ice cream cones, and two Grand Prizes: a free child's birthday party, and a Zoomobile visit to a child's classroom.

Participating libraries include Monroe, Fairfield (Main and Fairfield Woods), New Canaan, Stratford, Trumbull (Main and Fairchild Nichols), Weston, Milford, Easton, Wilton, Danbury, Cheshire, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Shelton (Main and Huntington), Hamden, and all five Bridgeport libraries

Evening Lecture Series:

Red Panda Network

Join us on Wednesday, June 15th at 7pm via Zoom for our next Evening Lecture! Learn about how the Red Panda Network is saving this adorable endangered animal. Terrance Fleming will explain the Network's approach to conservation that is built on the support of local communities in Nepal adopting sustainable forest management practices.

Lectures are $10/household and will be presented via Zoom. Our Evening Lecture Series is sponsored by AARP CT, and brought to you by the CBZ Volunteer Council.

Register Today

In Person Zoo Patrol Returns This Summer!

Zoo Patrol offers children ages 8-13 the opportunity to explore a different area of the Zoo each day and have a custom guided experience. They'll see how the animals are cared for through presentations and projects on enrichment, training, diet, and habitat care.

Weekly sessions begin on July 4 and run on Zoo grounds Monday through Friday from 9:00am-12:30pm until August 5.

Register Here

100 Years of Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo      

In January, we asked you to share your memories of the Zoo with us as we celebrate 100 years. We'll be sharing them here monthly, as well as on social media.

"The smile my son Aidan had on his face as he had a great experience seeing animals he had only seen on his iPad was heart warming."

- Avagayle Campbell, Zoo Guest

Share Your Own Zoo Memory

Pride Month is here! June offers a unique opportunity to teach kids about the different ways people can identify and love one another. It’s important for your child to see lots of different identifies represented around them to encourage a more inclusive world. Read on for great ways to celebrate the LGBTQIA community.

Read more here.

Follow @ConnecticutChildrens on social media for the latest parenting tips from our pediatric experts, brought to you through Connecticut Children's Pediatric Care Alliance with Hartford HealthCare.

Needs & Deeds

A place to show gratitude to our faithful Zoo supporters and acknowledge current needs.

Needs

The Zoo is in need of the following:

Your Zoo Memories! As part of our Centennial, we will be collecting stories, photos, and memories to highlight the Zoo's impact on our community. To submit a memory, please click here.

If you would like to contribute to or donate equipment, please contact Jessica Taylor at [email protected].

Thank you!

ANIMAL FUN FACT

I am a bird, popular in the sport of falconry, and I have unusual behavior called “back stacking”. Can you guess who I am?

Click for the Answer!