Muzzled and leashed, bears are forced to perform ridiculous tricks such as balancing on a ball, riding a bicycle, walking upright, or balancing on their front legs.

Bears in Captivity:

The Overlooked Animal

FAQs 

Where are captive bears found in the U.S.?

Bears are found in zoos, roadside zoos, tourist attractions such as bear pits, and traveling and stationary shows – all for the sake of entertainment.

How many captive bears are there in the U.S.?

About 1,000 bears are caged and exploited for entertainment and display in roadside zoos. They are deprived of all that is natural and important to them.

Why is captivity a problem for bears?

Bears are highly energetic and intelligent animals with complex needs. In nature, they are almost constantly on the move, active for about 18 hours a day in home ranges up to 50 or more square miles. Compare that to living in a tiny cage – maybe no bigger than your living room – for your entire life. Small spaces offer little opportunity for bears to engage in natural behaviors that are important to their health and welfare.

What is a roadside zoo?

Bears are often found in shoddy, rundown attractions called roadside zoos. They are confined in small dirty enclosures, fed inadequate diets, and may be denied veterinary care. Instead of roaming on soft grass and soil, bears stand, lie, and walk on concrete flooring that causes painful foot and joint disorders. With little room to move, they may become obese. Bears often display abnormal repetitive behaviors such as pacing, bar biting, and head rolling – a sign of poor welfare.

What is a bear pit?

Bear pits are deep concrete enclosures like the one pictured above, that people look down into to view the bears. They are a form of sensory deprivation since all the bears can see are high concrete walls around them. Like roadside zoos, bears suffer health problems due to lack of space for healthy movement and hard concrete surfaces that damage their feet and joints. Bears often display abnormal repetitive behaviors such as pacing. They may be denied shelter from bad weather or the chance to retreat to a den in the winter.

What is a performing bear show?

Bear shows are much like circuses. Muzzled and leashed, bears are forced to perform ridiculous tricks such as balancing on a ball, riding a bicycle, walking upright, or balancing on their front legs. Inhumane training methods are used to ensure the bear performs reliably and on cue. Bears are transported from show to show in cramped, dirty trucks and confined in small cages. These archaic and cruel exhibitions can still be found in county and state fairs in the U.S. or in roadside attractions. Bear shows do not educate the public. They send the wrong message about the true nature of bears by ridiculing and demeaning these dignified animals.

How are bears trained to perform tricks?

Trainers often use intimidation and the threat of painful punishment. Although the audience never sees this training, the bears remember the sting of whips, rods, and other weapons used to make them perform a trick. Some bear trainers are known to burn a bear’s front paws to get them to walk upright on their hind legs, a position that is unnatural for bears.

Why shouldn’t I take a photo with a baby bear?

Exhibitors charge the public to hold and take photos with bear cubs – a practice that is very harmful to bears. Baby bears are torn from their mothers shortly after birth, even though they would naturally spend about 17 months together. Depriving cubs of their mother’s milk leaves them susceptible to disease including some that are transmissible to humans (e.g., E-coli). Cubs are subjected to the stress of excessive handling, sleep deprivation, injury, and abuse at the hands of facility staff. Bears have non-retractable claws, so even a young bear can cause injury to the children and adults handling them.

Bear cubs grow very fast, and soon they can no longer be handled and exploited for profit. The cubs may be sold to other zoos, private owners, or used to produce more cubs. Many unwanted bears have been slaughtered for the exotic meat market.

Can bears be kept as pets?

Bears are not “pets” – they are wild animals. Even if captive-born their natural instincts remain intact. These very strong animals can attack suddenly and without warning, causing serious injury and death. Bears kept as “pets” live in miserable conditions. They are confined in small and barren backyard cages, deprived of everything natural to them. The private ownership of bears is illegal in most states.

What about the bears I see in movies and television?

Bears continue to appear in films, television shows, ads, and media stunts. They are subject to long travel and prolonged confinement, and handlers often use abusive training methods to ensure a bear performs on cue. Media depictions of bears (with the exception of true nature documentaries) can distort the public’s understanding of these animals or make them appear to be suitable as pets.

What about other zoos?

Conditions for bears can vary from zoo to zoo, but no captive facility can truly meet bears’ complex physical and behavioral needs.

Aren’t there laws that protect bears?

Government oversight is minimal, so bears are not truly protected. Despite poor conditions and treatment, bears continue to suffer in captivity.

Are bears exploited like this in other countries?

Yes. Bears are found in traveling circuses, zoos, and other attractions in many parts of the world.

Are bears endangered?

Of the eight bear species in the world, the American black bear and the brown bear are the only two species not threatened with extinction. However, this does not justify their use for entertainment.

Can I visit an animal sanctuary?

Some true sanctuaries that are open to the public care for rescued bears. Be sure you are visiting a true sanctuary, one that does not breed, buy, sell, trade, make their animals perform, or allow public contact with wild animals of any age. GFAS (Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries) accreditation is a sign of a true sanctuary. While true sanctuaries provide more space, natural conditions, and a better life for bears, they also acknowledge that no bear should be kept in captivity.

How can I tell a true sanctuary from a fake?

There are places that pose as sanctuaries or falsely claim to rescue wild animals. If a facility always has baby animals (which means they are buying or breeding) or allows you to touch the animals, it is not a true sanctuary. Be sure to look for GFAS accreditation.

What should I do if a bear show or petting operation is in or near my town?

Send a letter to the editor of your local paper opposing the event. Write or call the fair or facility hosting the event and express your opposition. Post polite but firm comments on social media sites for the event. Use social media to warn friends to stay away from the exhibition.

How can I help captive bears?

Bears are highly intelligent and complex animals who suffer greatly for “entertainment.” You can be part of the solution!

• Never pet or take a selfie with a bear of any age.
• Never attend a show with performing bears or other wild animals.
• Never visit a roadside zoo or bear pit.
• Do not patronize fake sanctuaries or rescues.
• Share what you’ve learned with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Since 1984 PAWS has been working to end the suffering of captive wild animals in roadside zoos, the exotic “pet” trade, circuses, and other entertainment – while providing safe refuge for elephants, big cats, bears and other wild animals at our 2,300-acre ARK 2000 sanctuary in California.

For more information, visit www.PAWSweb.org.