OHIO - Ohio may not come to mind when people imagine bears roaming freely throughout its state. Still, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife (ODNR), black bears have returned to Ohio. Ohio was historically home to black bears until unregulated hunting and habitat loss caused them to be locally extinct by 1850. Today, according to estimates by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife estimates that between 50-100 individual bears reside within its borders.
Between 50-100 Individual Bears Reside Within Ohio's Borders
Black bears are omnivorous animals that feed on various food sources such as berries, bark, insects, and fish. Dens are typically located in hollow tree trunks, rock crevices, or old stumps near ground squirrel burrows - making this species quite adaptable in terms of habitat selection: from lakes near wetlands through grasslands, forests to suburban neighborhoods, they have no preference about where they make their homes.
Young male bears can often be seen roaming Ohio looking for food and mates. While these males are often disruptive in communities by knocking over bird feeders and garbage cans, Ohio Department of Natural Resources biologists believe that having black bears come to Ohio is good news and encourage people to help these beautiful creatures by taking down bird feeders, properly securing outdoor trash cans and taking measures such as taking away outdoor pet food at night to allow these bears thrive.
ODNR advises those who encounter bears to avoid approaching, instead using sound techniques to scare them off - such as clapping, raising arms above your head, and shouting to make yourself appear larger than you actually are. Graber and Emmert say the best way to help bears remain wild is by denying them access to human food sources.
