A mystery has been solved

[JoeH]

That is why you should not store food outside near a house, it attracts wildlife. One of my brothers had a problem caused by a neighbor storing birdseed outside her garage in a covered garbage can a few years ago. Well. it started attracting wildlife, brother and his girlfriend started having black bears wander into town following the power line right of way, through their back yard less than 10 feet from the door to go to the neighbor's yard.