Brown bears are wide-ranging omnivores with strong seasonal behavioral cycles. Captive management that accommodates their hyperphagia, denning, and ranging needs is central to their welfare.
Brown bear welfare in zoo settings has improved dramatically as facilities transitioned from concrete pits to large naturalistic habitats. Historical bear pits — tiny concrete enclosures with minimal enrichment — produced animals with severe stereotypic behaviors that persisted lifelong. Modern facilities provide naturalistic habitats with diverse vegetation, soil substrates for digging, pools for swimming, climbing structures, and varied terrain that allows bears to express natural movement patterns. Seasonal behavioral programming that provides hyperphagia-appropriate food enrichment in autumn aligns husbandry with natural behavioral rhythms. The intelligence of bears demands systematic enrichment rotation — novelty is as important as enrichment quality, because bears habituate rapidly to familiar items. Breeding management must consider cub welfare as well as adult welfare, with appropriate denning facilities and maternal care conditions. Bears housed in pairs or small groups compatible with natural social tolerance show better behavioral outcomes than solitary individuals.