At least one black bear was spotted roaming around a Greater Cincinnati home on Aspenhill Drive in Springfield Township early July 7.
A Fox 19 viewer shared videos of the bear walking outside their home around 4:15 a.m. A Greenhills police officer also reported seeing a black bear on the Commons that same morning. However, it’s possible they saw the same bear. The two locations are about an hour apart on foot, according to Google Maps.
The bear was last seen in the woods off Interstate 275 near Forest Park, the Greenhills Police Department told The Enquirer.
Hamilton County dispatch said someone also reported a bear sighting around 6:45 a.m. July 5 on westbound Interstate 275 in Sharonville near Mosteller Road, but officers didn’t find anything when they arrived.
Black bear sightings aren’t uncommon in Ohio, but it’s rare to find the animals so close to the city. Here’s what we know.
There have been several black bear sightings across southwest Ohio
There have been approximately six black bear sightings across southwest Ohio within the past 10 days, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources told The Enquirer.
Here is where the bear sightings were reported:
Why have there been increased sightings of black bears near Cincinnati?
Cincinnati residents will rarely find a black bear rummaging through their trash.
Kathy Garza-Behr, wildlife communication specialist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, confirmed to The Enquirer that there has been an increase in black bears sightings in southwest Ohio of late, but this happens seasonally in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the state.
She said this is the season when young males start looking to set up their own territory.
Black bear reports up in Ohio
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has tracked black bear sightings in the state since 1993. Most bears spotted are young males, wandering long distances in search of a mate and territory.
Reports are growing, according to the department, with most observed in northeast and southeast Ohio. In 2022, the most recent year data is available in the monitoring report, Ohio had both the highest sightings and confirmations of black bears on record.
Here are the numbers dating back to 2019:
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 seek to attack or kill children or pets. The bears are generally not aggressive and prefer to flee if they are aware of your presence.
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.
State wildlife officials recommend using the acronym AWARE:
How to protect your house, backyard from black bears
Black bears can cause significant damage while searching for an easy meal. Here’s how you can protect your backyard if one is in your area, per ODNR:
Spot a bear in the wild? Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife wants to know
Did you see a bear? The state’s 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.
Enquirer media partner FOX19 and Ohio Connect Team reporter Chad Murphy contributed this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: SW Ohio has had 6 black bear sightings in 10 days. Here’s why there has been an uptick
Reporting by Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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