Beardsley Zoo Animals 'Beat The Heat' With Cool Treats

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- While the staff at Bridgeport's Beardsley Zoo keeps a close eye on their animals during the summer heat, the tigers, penguins — and all the species that call Connecticut's only zoo home — are adept at beating the heat naturally.

Daily Voice recently visited Bridgeport's Beardsley Zoo to see how its animals are beating the summer heat.
Photo Credit: *Daily Voice Greater Bridgeport Area*

Jay Polansky

08/31/2016 4:30 a.m.

"In actuality, they do very well on their own," Zoo Director Gregg Dancho told Daily Voice in a video. "They will calm themselves down. They'll go to a shady spot."

But zoo staff ensures the animals have everything they need to stay cool. "We make sure they've got enough water. We make sure they've got enough food. We'll make sure they've got enough shelter."

Like many zoos, Beardsley also provides special treats called "enrichments" to the animals in the summertime.

"We'll freeze up meat, we'll freeze up blood, we'll freeze up fish and we use that for enrichment for something to do," Dancho said. "But also while they're eating it, playing with it, [and] they're getting a nice cool treat."

For the full story, watch the Daily Voice video. For more information on the zoo, visit its website here.

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