Both species were omnivores, browsing on shrubs and trees, and eating browsers like deer, camels, llamas, tapirs, ground sloths, and wood bison, Dental damage from eating carbohydrates, and seeds in "Arctodus simus"' poop proves plants were consumed, while bone damage on prey matches both "Arctodus" species' teeth. Analyses of "Arctodus simus"' bone chemicals confirm that the giant short-faced bear lived in open forests and other vegetated areas, and sometimes ate other open forest inhabitants.