Another troubling case of animal neglect has come to light. The USDA recently cited Oswald’s Bear Ranch, a notorious roadside zoo, for failing to provide adequate care for the bears trapped on its property. This latest citation underscores what animal advocates have been saying for years: roadside zoos are not sanctuaries—they are profit-driven businesses that exploit wildlife for entertainment.
At Sustainable Action Now, we believe it’s time to shine a spotlight on these operations and work toward ending the cycle of cruelty that so many animals endure.
The Problem with Roadside Zoos
Roadside zoos like Oswald’s Bear Ranch often disguise themselves as family-friendly attractions, but behind the photo ops and staged interactions lies a grim reality. Animals are routinely kept in enclosures that are too small, too barren, and utterly unsuitable for their physical and psychological needs.
The USDA’s citation confirms what many visitors and advocates have long suspected—these bears are not receiving proper care. Without sufficient enrichment, space, and medical oversight, the animals suffer both physically and emotionally. What’s more, many roadside zoos use cubs as photo props until they grow too large to handle, at which point they’re relegated to cramped pens or worse.
This isn’t conservation. It’s exploitation.
Why Bears Suffer in Captivity
Bears are intelligent, wide-ranging animals who thrive in the wild where they can forage, roam, and hibernate naturally. In facilities like Oswald’s Bear Ranch, those instincts are stifled. Instead of roaming forests and rivers, they are confined to enclosures where boredom and stress often lead to pacing, over-grooming, or aggression—classic signs of zoochosis, the psychological distress experienced by animals in captivity.
What makes this especially tragic is that many of these bears could live full, healthy lives in properly accredited sanctuaries, where their needs are respected and met. Instead, they’re treated as spectacles for paying crowds.
The USDA Citation: A Wake-Up Call
While the USDA’s citation is a critical step in holding Oswald’s Bear Ranch accountable, it’s not enough. Enforcement alone won’t end the exploitation of these animals. It is up to all of us to demand change and support efforts that move animals out of cruel roadside zoos and into accredited sanctuaries where they can finally live in dignity.
You can learn more about the ongoing fight against exploitative zoos and the need for stronger protections on our zoos campaign page.
What You Can Do to Help
Ending this cruelty requires collective action. Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Never visit roadside zoos. Every ticket sold is a vote for more animal suffering.
- Educate others. Share the truth about facilities like Oswald’s Bear Ranch so friends and family know the reality behind the marketing.
- Support accredited sanctuaries. Choose to visit and donate to sanctuaries that provide animals with safe, spacious environments and do not exploit them for profit.
- Push for stronger laws. Advocate for legislation that holds exploiters accountable and ensures that rescued animals are placed in true sanctuaries.
A Better Future for Bears
The USDA citation against Oswald’s Bear Ranch is more than just a report—it’s a call to action. These animals deserve so much more than concrete pits and tourist gimmicks. They deserve freedom from exploitation, the ability to roam in natural surroundings, and the chance to live out their lives in peace.
Together, we can help end the cycle of abuse by refusing to support roadside zoos and instead standing up for real, lasting solutions. With awareness, advocacy, and action, we can create a future where no bear suffers for human entertainment.
👉 To learn more about how roadside zoos harm animals and what you can do to help, visit our dedicated page on zoos and animal exploitation.
✨ Sustainable Action Now: Fighting for animals, exposing cruelty, and building a compassionate world—one report at a time.
