Crying ‘Bears’ to Warn Tourists Away From Clark’s Cruel Concrete Bear Pit
For Immediate Release:
August 27, 2026
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
“Bears Belong in the Wild, Not Concrete Pits!” That’s the message PETA supporters in giant crying bear masks will bring to Clark’s Bears, which relegates them to concrete pits when they’re not forced to perform in circus-style shows. The animal allies will gather outside the roadside zoo on Sunday to warn potential visitors of the cruelty on display and call on Clark’s to release the animals to a reputable sanctuary, where they could explore a vast habitat, engage in natural behaviors, and finally get the care they need after years of living on hard concrete.
“No bear would choose to spend her life imprisoned in a concrete pit, forced to perform stupid tricks for rowdy tourists day in and day out,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on Clark’s to send these suffering animals to a reputable sanctuary and urges everyone to stay far away from any place that imprisons animals in concrete pits or tiny pens.”
Where: Clark’s Bears, 110 US-3, Lincoln
When: Sunday, August 30, 12:30 p.m.
Why: Black bears love to climb and explore, and in nature can travel more than 20 miles in a single day. They’ve been documented using sticks as tools and manipulating tree saplings to reach hanging food. Confining bears on concrete slabs can cause arthritis, pressure sores, and other painful and debilitating conditions.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a bear is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
