A camper's worst nightmare has become a homeowner's reality for many: Bears that once rummaged around campsites now dive into suburban dumpsters and trash cans, munching on more than picnic snacks.Many human-bear conflicts are caused by human food sources luring bears. Many more are caused by humans encroaching onto bear habitats.
In any case, scientists have wondered how animals learn to find and eat human food. Some researchers assumed bear cubs picked up this behavior from their mothers, but a new study may acquit mama bears.
Researchers found that black bears that steal human food are just as likely to form these habits on their own or pick them up from unrelated "bad influence" bears, as to learn them from their mothers. The scientists detailed their findings in the latest edition of the Journal of Mammalogy.
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