ManyOtters: Using Big Team Science to Study Otter Problem Solving and Memory at Bridgeport Zoo

Bridgeport Zoo will host a special presentation titled ManyOtters: Using Big Team Science to Study Otter Problem Solving and Memory on August 13, 2025, at 7:00 pm. The talk will be led by Dr. Deirdre B. Yeater, Chair and Professor of Psychology at Sacred Heart University.

This engaging lecture will highlight the innovative “ManyOtters” research initiative, a collaborative project bringing together scientists and animal care professionals from multiple zoos and aquariums—including Beardsley Zoo—to study cognition in otters. Using a unified research model, the team aims to explore problem solving and long-term memory in otters of all species through the use of novel puzzle feeders.

The first phase of the project, referred to as MO1, focuses on otter memory retention and has broader implications for improving animal welfare practices in zoological settings. Additionally, the findings are expected to contribute valuable insights to otter conservation efforts worldwide.

The presentation takes place at the Bridgeport Zoo, 1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut. For more information and registration details, visit the zoo’s website.