Rural hotel owner paints a message on dumpster after repeat bear raids leave neighbor's yard covered in trash

A rural Pennsylvania hotel owner has turned a dumpster into a message board after bears repeatedly raid the dumpster behind the Central Park Hotel near Jamison City. For about four years, bears have targeted restaurant and bar waste, leaving the neighbor’s yard littered with trash, especially in spring. Nicole Good, the owner, said a neighbor encounter prompted her to paint a bear-proofing message on the dumpster, hoping to deter future raids by showing that food sources will be guarded. Easy access to food often draws wildlife into human spaces, raising risks for both neighbors and animals. When bears learn that human food is reachable, they may return more often, grow bolder, and face relocation or lethal control. Advice for bear country emphasizes securing garbage and keeping food away from urban areas, and residents are urged to store garbage indoors during bear activity.