Behavioral enrichment of captive black bears (Ursus americanus)

A crucial aspect of captive animal care is enrichment, ranging from simple additions of flora to complicated foraging puzzles. Enrichments are vital in creating an environment for animals that is similar to their wild habitat and eliciting natural behaviors. Enrichment is also used to inhibit unnatural or harmful behaviors, like pacing. Commonly, enrichment techniques are not scientifically tested, and the universality of enrichments is rarely scrutinized. This study explores the universality of a "Snak'n'Trim", a hollow ball 10 inches in diameter with a 1 inch opening for food items to be inserted into the ball. Four bears, (two male, two female) were observed for ten weeks, five in the summer and five in the winter. Daily observations were made during baseline and enrichment trials. Behavior frequency was calculated and results indicate a significant (p<.01) difference between baseline and enrichment trials, providing evidence for the efficacy of the Snak'n'Trim.