Why do black bears near campgrounds sometimes become active at night?

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

In their natural habitats, black bears are typically diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. However, when living in areas with high levels of human activity, such as campsites or dumps, they often shift their behavior to become nocturnal.1

This adaptation allows them to avoid direct encounters with humans. While black bears generally prefer to avoid people, they are opportunistic feeders that readily adapt to human-provided food sources like garbage and handouts. This habituation to human food can lead to dangerous conflicts, making it essential for the safety of both humans and bears that people refrain from feeding them.1