Black bears are highly intelligent and active omnivores whose welfare needs are difficult to meet in zoo settings without substantial space, foraging opportunities, and environmental complexity.
Bears in inadequate captive environments show some of the most visible stereotypic behaviors of any zoo species - the pacing bear is an iconic and troubling image. These behaviors represent the expression of frustrated locomotory and foraging drives in animals with enormous natural activity budgets. Bears in well-designed modern enclosures with naturalistic substrates, foraging challenges, and appropriate denning opportunities show dramatically lower stereotypy rates. The gap between minimum-acceptable and genuinely good bear welfare is significant and driven largely by investment choices.