Bears are opportunists and take advantage of what is available. Spring offers grasses, flowers, and other vegetation. As summer approaches, berries, ants, and termites are added to their diet. With the arrival of fall, the drive to eat nuts and other foods high in important fats and calories increases. At this point bears may eat 20,000 calories a day.
Habituated bears live according to a human cycle.
After leaving their dens in spring, they head for the nearest garbage cans, and eat food left accessible by people. Bears become more aggressive towards people once they recognize them as a food source. They have a great sense of smell and identify coolers as a food source by sight. A locked car door, zipped up tent, or a typical garbage can do not keep bears out. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage is caused to vehicles and camping equipment each year.