My family and I share a passion for and love of all animals. As a result, you can often find us visiting aquariums, zoos, petting zoos, and farms. Even though my children are only 3 and 4 years old, I try very hard to teach them that we have a responsibility to take care of one another and all living things on this home we call Earth. I think this kind of nurturing is vital for our planet’s future and the generations to come after us. Even at their tender age, they can understand the impact we have on our environment. For instance, at the beach, we always try to pick up any garbage that we see and I make sure to have an open discussion about how this could harm our planet and why it is our duty to treat it with respect. Seeing photos of turtles with plastic wrapped around their neck helped them to understand what happens to garbage left lying around.
Often I am concerned about animal life and how the animals are taken care of at the different establishments that we visit. On our recent day trip up to Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT, I was delighted to hear that animal life and conservation are a top priority. Not only that, but this zoo is also among a small select group of zoos to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as well as participating in the Species Survival (SSP) programs. You will not find any African animals at this zoo, as they would not adapt well to the Connecticut environment. This is one way you can see how deeply the zoo cares about its inhabitants. I am thrilled to visit and support a place that takes its duties so seriously and inspires its visitors to do the same.
This year, two adorable, and endangered, Amur Leopards have been born. We got a chance to see them at the zoo and they are breathtaking creatures (and look so cuddly!)
A quick hop skip and a ferry ride later, the Beardsley Zoo is only 10-15 minutes north of the Bridgeport ferry, making this a very convenient day trip! We boarded the ferry with our car but you could easily walk onto the ferry and get a quick Uber to the zoo.
There is a large variety of animals to see there, but my absolute favorite was the maned wolf. I had never seen or heard of this animal before and I couldn’t figure out if it was a fox or some other type of creature. I would have never guessed it was a type of wolf. This beautiful animal is red in color with very long legs. The maned wolf does not like the cold and at the zoo, they have access to a heated barn. You’ll find that in almost every exhibit the animal has a choice to be outside or inside, and they are not Locked out or in, instead they have the ability to roam back and forth depending on their choice. This is wonderful for bad weather or cold Connecticut days. I’ve often thought in other places that the animals should have access to the indoors many times and I was delighted to see the zoo’s tender loving care in every facet of this place.
The zoo has been creating new and unique habitats such as the Spider monkey exhibit. This innovative newly open exhibit allows visitors to view the monkeys when they are either outside or inside. Meaning, no matter where the monkeys choose to hang out, you can visit these amazing creatures.
 Indoor Spider Monkey Habitat |  Outdoor Spider Monkey Habitat |
For children visiting the zoo, you can choose among some specialized programming. Once a month they have “Zoo Tots” which is for children 22 months to 4 years. You can also book this program for your playgroup. Also this summer they are offering “Zoo Patrol” which has behind-the-scenes tours, games, crafts, hands-on learning and zookeeper talks. You can learn more about these programs here.
In addition to the animals, of course, this zoo also has a fun indoor carousel with different types of animals as well as horses for your children to ride. You can also see a display of 70 or so older carousel horses displayed inside as well. There are ample picnic tables for you to enjoy your lunch as well as an indoor food option, the Peacock Cafe serving up your typical grilled items. In the same area, there is a smaller snack stand with items such as pretzels and ice cream. Right in with the same area as the picnic tables is a small play area where the kids can burn off some energy while you eat. They also have misters places throughout the zoo which really help you cool off on a hot summer day. My children loved finding them and enjoyed each one!
We had a very nice time at the Beardsley Zoo. We had met my mom's cousins who live in Upstate New York and it was a nice meeting spot for both of us. My children had a lot of fun and even the teenager was enjoying himself. When visiting please note that the farmyard is currently under renovation and closed at the time of publication. I can't wait to see their newest exhibit when it reopens! The Beardsley Zoo is a great destination for a day trip or as an add-on to your New England adventure.
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I received complimentary one-day admission tickets to the Beardsley Zoo for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are those of myself and my family.
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