devs didn't like bears

[Zechnophobe]

Just a natural hazard of being a bear. Ogres steal their action points, they get blinded, or feared, or have no path to enemy = sleepy sleepy bears.

I think it's a minor issue. They should have used a different mechanism for determining hibernation. Maybe make it a special ability that you activate.

Actually, that'd make them kinda good early game. Activated ability that fully heals the current bear, but spends their turn. I could see it, especially for Polar bears.