A Usage of the modal verb "would"

Hello everyone. I have a question.

Regarding the last sentence of the following passage:

Bears are moving out of the forests into the suburbs of New Jersey. Raccoons are making their homes in the parks and backyards of Los Angeles. Wild animals that once fled from humans now live in closer proximity to them than at any time in the history of the U.S. Why?

The prime reason is food. Mountain lions, wolves, bears, deer and other animals have found that cities are excellent places to get food. For wild animals, leftovers in rubbish bins are irresistible. Many animals hunt garbage cans just as they would hunt for food in their natural habitats.

I think that the modal verb would in the sentence is used to express GUESSING, as the author does not know for sure what wild animals do in their natural habitats. I mean, I believe that this sentence can be paraphrased as "Many animals hunt garbage cans just as they, I suppose, hunt for food in their natural habitats."

In fact, one of my friends doesn't agree with my idea. He says that this would represents PAST HABITS. In other words, according to him, this sentence can be rephrased as "Many animals hunt garbage cans just as they hunted for food in their natural habitats."

What do you make of it?