Roadside zoos and substandard captive facilities keep bears in concrete pits and small cages, causing severe psychological suffering in highly intelligent animals with wide-ranging natural instincts.
Bears are highly intelligent, wide-ranging omnivores whose natural behaviors — foraging over large areas, denning seasonally, engaging with complex forest environments — are entirely suppressed in roadside pit or cage conditions. The result is chronic psychological suffering expressed through stereotypic behaviors that persist even after rescue. Bears in substandard facilities often suffer from nutritional deficiencies, dental problems from begging diets, and social deprivation. The welfare case for closing these facilities and transitioning animals to accredited sanctuaries is overwhelming.