Well, here in California, bears break into cars, climb trees and chew ropes, kamikaze dive from the tops of trees to nab the counterbalanced bags on the way down, and do CPR on bear vaults, not to mention bluff charge hikers to make them drop packs. They have been known to dart out and grab food when you turn your back and take off with unattended backpacks. They break into cabins routinely and have done so for decades in some areas. I had a bear sneak up on me while I was sitting next to a trail eating a turkey sandwich.

I hang food where there are no bears to speak of. The raccoons, ringtails, rats, squirrels and mice are a nuisance in some areas. Currently I have three sizes of canister and use them anywhere I think there will be bears. It's not worth doing otherwise any more.