What do black bears eat during spring summer and fall?

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Jasper National Park: grizzly bear — bear Grizzly bear in Jasper National Park, western Alberta, Canada.

Although classified as carnivores, black bears are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Their diet changes seasonally to meet their nutritional needs:

Spring: They consume emerging plants and the carcasses of animals that died during the winter. In some regions, they also act as predators, frequently killing moose calves and deer fawns.1
Summer: Fruits become the dominant component of their diet.1
Fall: Their diet consists primarily of fruit and mast, particularly acorns and beechnuts. This intake is critical, as bears must accumulate large quantities of body fat during late summer and fall to survive their winter dormancy.1

Throughout these seasons, black bears may also eat pine cones, roots, ants, and honey. Those living near humans may also readily consume garbage or food handouts.1