Black bear sightings are surfacing all across the Cincinnati region.
Brett Beatty, wildlife management supervisor with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources District 5 office, told the Enquirer in a June 24 interview that sightings started about a week ago in southern Clermont County. The bear was reported in New Richmond and Bethel, then it turned west into Hamilton County and was reported in Anderson Township. The latest report came from Greenhills, north of Cincinnati. But Beatty said that report was spotted online, and has yet to be verified.
“We typically have zero black bears in this part of the state. That’s why it’s such big news,” Beatty said.
Bear sightings are becoming more common in Ohio but are more frequent in the eastern portion of the state where they wander in from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Black bears in Southwest Ohio are still a rarity, with only eight reported and three confirmed sightings since 2023, according to the May 2026 Ohio Black Bear Monitoring Report from ODNR.
And bears are in the state to stay, with a small population establishing itself in Northeast Ohio. Here’s where they have been seen in Southwest Ohio, and a map of some 2026 sightings.
Black bear spotted near Cincinnati
In the Greater Cincinnati area, WCPO reports multiple black bear sightings in Anderson Township, in Hamilton County east of the city. WLWT reports a small black bear was caught on video running up a tree on Damon Road in Greenhills, a Hamilton County village north of Cincinnati. And WKRC Local12 reports a bear was spotted in multiple communities east of the Queen City, including New Richmond and Withamsville in Clermont County.
Beatty told the Enquirer that the bear is probably a young male trying to find a mate. When he realized there are no females around, he’ll likely leave.
Wandering is typical for young males, he said. The bears are dispersing to find their own home range.
“They’re learning how to be bears by themselves,” Beatty said.
For those who may see the bear, Beatty advises you give it space. Take a photo from a distance and don’t chase it. ODNR states that black bears are likely to run from humans.
Map of Ohio bear sightings in 2026
Ohio bear sightings in 2026
In other recent bear sightings across Ohio, Justin Jacobs of Mount Vernon caught a black bear on video June 23, and again on June 24, in Danville, Knox County. He shared the videos to Facebook.
A black bear also was spotted in Licking County, WCMH News4 reported June 19.
Ohio wildlife officials collared a massive, 576-pound black bear in Ashtabula County in early June. The bear, nearly double the average weight of 300 pounds for males, will be tracked using the radio collar inform research about black bears movement and behavior in the state.
Another sighting happened in the City of Aurora in Portage County, roughly 30 miles northeast of Akron. The Aurora Police Department stated on social media June 4 that the bear was spotted in the northeast part of town. The department shared a photo of the bear along with some tips to stay safe.
Before that, black bears were spotted as recently as May 19 in Youngstown, where one was nearly hit by a pickup truck. The bear was wandering the streets on the south side of the city. Mike Montell told WKBN TV-27 he took video of the bear running across the road. It nearly got hit by a truck and then ran off into the woods.
Earlier sightings in 2026 include about four bears in a backyard in Ashtabula County, climbing to get bird feeders in April, Fox 8 News in Cleveland reported in April.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources want to help humans, black bears coexist
Wildlife officials want to help property owners coexist with bears.
The Division of Wildlife posted an advisory to Facebook on May 12 about avoiding human-bear conflict. In it, ODNR states that “the presence of desirable food sources” is the cause of many conflicts between humans and bears, and it offers suggestions on how to reduce them. The post goes on to offer the assistance of wildlife officials to help people deal with bears in the area.
“When bears are present in an area, our agency can provide education and resources to help landowners discourage nuisance behavior,” the Division of Wildlife states.
Black bears, once gone from Ohio, returning to the state
Black bears were considered gone from Ohio by the 1850s, per ODNR, due to deforestation and hunting by Ohio settlers. However, they have been spotted wandering through the state as populations in neighboring Pennsylvania and West Virginia grow, according to the bear report.
ODNR estimates an in-state population between 50 and 100.
What to do if you see a black bear
Black bear attacks are rare; they are usually fearful of people. As long as they are given space and not cornered, bears do not attack or kill children or pets. The bears are generally not aggressive and prefer to flee if they are aware of your presence.
So if you see a black bear, remain calm. If it hasn’t noticed you, back away slowly and leave the area. If it is aware of you, avoid direct eye contact and give it an easy escape route. Don’t run away or climb a tree, which may provoke a chase.
ODNR recommends remembering this using the acronym AWARE:
Spot a bear in the wild? The ODNR Division of Wildlife wants to know
Did you see a bear? The ODNR Division of Wildlife wants to know. Report sightings online at wildohio.gov or the Wildlife Species Sighting Report. You can also contact your local county wildlife officer or regional District Wildlife Office.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Black bears sightings reported near Cincinnati. See map, stay safe
Reporting by Chad Murphy and Matthew Cupelli, USA TODAY NETWORK / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chad Murphy and Matthew Cupelli, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
