As a couple of large black bears bit, clawed at, overturned and climbed on large, hard-plastic, bear-proof trash cans in a zoo enclosure Thursday, wildlife officials underscored how important it is to use them, particularly as summer approaches.

At a demonstration at the Central Florida Zoo, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said black bears are getting more active in their search for food.

Officials said bear-resistant trash cans can help discourage encounters with the large animals, which often enter residential areas in search of food.

On Thursday FWC officials put the bears in an enclosed area at the Sanford zoo, along with a couple of the bear-proof cans that had been lined with honey and peanut butter.

After more than 15 minutes of the bears clawing and biting at the cans, they were not able to get into them.

FWC said this is why the bear-proof cans are so important if you want to keep bears out of your trash — and ultimately away from your home.

Bear biologists with FWC said bears will eventually learn to just leave the bear-proof cans alone.

“We have some actual video of a bear avoiding a bear-resistant garbage can and going to the yard right next to it, the neighbor’s house, where it pulls a bag out that’s not a bear-resistant garbage can,” said Mike Orlando, a bear biologist with FWC.

The zoo's new black bear exhibit is set to open in July.