In the East, acorns are a key food source, along with beechnuts, chokecherries, hazelnuts and black cherries. Fruit orchards, especially apples, also draw bruins, as does skunk cabbage. Keep in mind that bears do not act like deer. That is, when one specific food source has been depleted, they'll move on until they find another. While deer may use an acorn ridge for a month, bears may be on it a week or less before leaving.
Bears are very mobile animals, too.
Alt's research shows that some males will use an area as big as 60 square miles as their home range, moving all over it, looking for food. Females in the study generally confined themselves to 15 square miles. The Value of Scouting Anyone who takes a black bear without scouting ought to buy a lottery ticket. If possible, also ask local sportsmen questions about recent bear sightings, areas where bears are seen from year to year and so on. In the Southwest, I often scout for deer and bears during the summer.