Photo Credit: Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
In a zoo setting, this behavior isn't really necessary. We have the means to feed the bears year round and allow them to be active. Tropical bears, such as sloth bears and Andean bears, ironically are awake during our winters, while the northern bears are tucked away and asleep. Still, allowing the bears to stuff themselves, sleep, and then awake and re-stuff themselves, if not strictly required, is still the natural behavior of these species. Whenever possible, I do feel like we should be trying to replicate natural behavior, which in the case of the bears means allowing them to hibernate. For about a third of their lifespan - being every winter - their life will be almost identical to that of a wild bear.
It also helps that it's one less exhibit you need to clean for a big chunk of the year. But don't worry - they will totally make up for the mess and the work in the spring.
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