Could very well be. Ice chests = candy bars for bears. Last time I was up at Whitney Portal, the rangers were coming by and issuing warnings just for having them ice chests visible, because the bears know them on sight, not to mention smell. Stowing the ice chest or even containers that resemble them in bear lockers at campsites is the best option.

I know that for hiking, there are a few bear-proof (supposedly) containers plus a sack for them that has dozens of feet of cord attached to them so you can hang them from a tree.