Bears in zoos require extensive foraging, denning, and spatial enrichment to prevent stereotypic behavior common in inadequately designed facilities.
Bears are among the most challenging zoo animals for welfare reasons: large, wide-ranging omnivores with strong motivations for diverse foraging behavior that captive environments struggle to engage. Stereotypic pacing in bears is a reliable indicator of welfare inadequacy - animals whose behavioral needs are met do not pace. The welfare transformation available through scatter feeding (hiding food throughout the exhibit), natural forage manipulation, seasonal management that mirrors wild phenology, and large spatially complex exhibits is substantial. Bears in well-designed modern exhibits with comprehensive enrichment programs show dramatically reduced stereotypy compared to those in barren concrete enclosures.