You might check out commercial bear canisters available.I was out for a walk yesterady and ran across someone out of town on a 4x4 who commented on my intention to store food on my hike this summer. He instisted that bears would get any food I stored. We chatted he suggested hanging it far out away from bear reach, but I though up an alternative, burrying it airtight in shallow water under a foot or so of sediment, as a way of not letting the bear get scent of it.
I actually came within 30 or so feet of a black bear yesterday, and found a bear skeleton, so they are out here, their range is quite wide including parts of the continental US. If you have wild animals, take into account that they might try to get it.. so you need to plan your food storage in mind of that.
Note that he mentioned the bears even managed to tear open steel drums to get the food inside..
A good way to cashe supplies and food in bear country is to put out decoys. Burry your stuff and then close by pour bacon grease over stumps or a rotten log. The bears will tear the wood apart but the strong scent will keep them for discovering our real supplies. I would guess sprinkling black pepper around on tHe ground would sufficiently throw the off the scent as well.You might check out commercial bear canisters available.