Food: Bears are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. They are attracted to trash because it often contains food scraps, such as meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, trash can also contain food-related items, such as paper plates and cups, plastic utensils, and aluminum foil. These items can smell like food to bears, even though they are not edible.
Smell: Bears have a very strong sense of smell. They can detect food smells from miles away. When a bear smells food, it will investigate the source of the smell. If the bear finds food, it will eat it.
Bears are also attracted to trash because it is often easy to access. Trash cans are often left open or unsecured, making it easy for bears to get to the trash. In addition, bears can often knock over trash cans or tear open trash bags.
Once a bear has found food in trash, it will likely return to the same area in the future, looking for more food. This can lead to a cycle of bears eating trash, which can be dangerous for both bears and humans.