A bear on the Broad Mountain may force Carbon County to purchase a dumpster to deter it from ripping apart the dog shelter trash.

Last week, the county prison board discussed the issue of the bear, which was spotted twice recently just outside the county correctional facility at the dog shelter’s dumpster.

Rodney Reeser, the prison maintenance director, said that the bear already has two tags on its ear, meaning it has been caught in the past.

Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said that the Communications Center/Emergency Management Agency, located in the same complex as the prison and dog shelter, had the same problem and got a bear resistant dumpster, which has seemed to help.

He said he wasn’t sure of the cost, but asked about getting a quote for next month’s meeting.

Sheriff Dan Zeigler suggested maybe also looking into the cost of fencing around the dumpster to see which was more cost effective.

Another option, they said, could be to contact the state Game Commission to trap and move the bear.

The group asked Reeser to look into the costs for a new dumpster and fencing.

In other prison ground matters, the board received notice from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, that well 2, located near the animal shelter, should not be used as a backup water source and that a new site should be looked at for a second well.

Nothstein also pointed out that the water tank at the prison will need to be inspected within the next two years and that the board should look at possibly adding a second or backup water storage tank so the county doesn’t have to truck water during the inspection to supply the prison with water.

He pointed out that trucking water in is costly, noting that the last time the tank went down, water tankers had to supply water for the facility until it was resolved, costing the county a significant amount of money.