Scoured and began searching right inside baby-bear sleeping place (8)
I believe the answer is:
scrubbed
'scoured' is the definition.
('scrub' can be a synonym of 'scour')
'searching right inside baby-bear sleeping place' is the wordplay.
'searching' becomes 's' (this might be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'inside' is an insertion indicator.
'baby bear' becomes 'cub' (I've seen this in another clue).
'sleeping place' becomes 'bed' (I've seen this before).
'r' inserted inside 'cub' is 'crub'.
's'+'crub'+'bed'='SCRUBBED'
'and began' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scrubbed that I've seen before include "Cancelled" , "Scoured - crossed off" .)