 From teddy bears to Yogi the Bear, bears have captivated the human imagination for generations. These large charismatic mammals have featured in stories, poems, movies, and more as majestic, and sometimes intimidating, apex predators in their environments. On June 7th each year, we focus on one particular North American bear (and the only bear to call Ohio home!) - the black bear (Ursus americanus)! How many species of bears exist in our world? There are eight species of bears distributed across the world; all eight species of bears are facing threats to their respective populations. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-many-types-of-bears-are-there.html What bear species live in North America? According to our National Park Service, three species of bears live in North America; this includes black bears, brown bears (grizzlies) and polar bears. The following map shows the national parks where one or more bear species have been reported: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/parks-with-bears.htm While bears of the same species might look similar, everything from their size, coloring, diet and sleeping patterns depend on the bear and its location. For example, a bear’s diet varies depending on what foods are available during a specific season in a specific region. The species pages listed here explore some of these varying characteristics by profiling bears in different parks. For more information about bears and bear behavior in a specific national park, please contact that park. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/types-of-bears.htm What is the most common species of bear in North America? The most common species of bear in North America is the Black Bear. The name "black" bear can be somewhat misleading as this species appears in a range of color phases that include black, chocolate brown, cinnamon brown, blue-black, and even white. Its face, in profile, can be straight or Roman-nosed, a distinguishing characteristic that helps differentiate it from the dish-faced grizzly and Alaskan Peninsula brown bears. What kind of bears live in Ohio? Only black bears live in Ohio (but not very many- estimated 150 individuals). Black Bears in Ohio: Guidelines to Enjoying Ohio's Expanding Black Bear Population Historically, black bears roamed the Buckeye State. Although black bears inhabited Ohio prior to settlement of the region, unregulated hunting and the extensive deforestation that occurred by the mid-1800s as farms, towns, and industry were established resulted in a sizable reduction in the number of bears residing within the state's borders. Unfortunately, these pressures rendered black bears extirpated (locally extinct) from Ohio by 1850. Today, Ohio is again home to a small but growing population of black bears. Ohio’s bear population is estimated to be anywhere from 50-150 individual bears. It is important we understand a little about the biology and habits of the black bear if we are to coexist comfortably with this Ohio resident. Most black bears range in size from 100 to 400 pounds, are 5 to 6 feet in length and average 3 feet high at the shoulder. The majority of bears in Ohio weigh between 125-250 pounds, and are juvenile male bears. Dispersing young black bears will often travel great distances in search of new habitat and are most likely to be seen by or interact with humans. These bears are extremely agile and are able to run up to 35 mph, climb trees with ease and swim long distances. Bears are omnivores, meaning they will eat a wide variety of foods. Depending on the season, their diet may include grasses, forbs, berries, mast from oak, hickory, and beech trees, carrion, and insect larvae. Black Bears Reproduction: Black bears are promiscuous breeders. Males in particular will mate with more than one individual, while females do on occasion. The peak mating activity takes place from mid-June through mid-July. Black bears are delayed implanters. Implantation of the fertilized egg usually occurs during early December, with gestation requiring six weeks. First litters generally have only one cub. Two or three cubs are usually produced in subsequent litters. Generally, one litter is produced every other year. Sows and their cubs leave the dens when the cubs are approximately three months old. The young remain with the mother, who is the sole care giver, for the first year and a half of their lives. Growth during a cub's first year is rapid. At birth, the sightless cubs weigh about eight ounces. By the time that the cubs open their eyes at about six weeks of age, they weigh between three and four pounds. Typically, cubs weigh between 25 and 65 pounds by September and may weigh nearly 70-80 pounds by the time they enter the overwinter den with the sow in early November, provided high quality food is readily available. Habitat and Behavior: Black bears can be found from coast to coast throughout North America in a wide variety of the more heavily wooded habitats, ranging from swamps and wetlands to dry upland hardwood and coniferous forests, from the Yukon and Northwest Territory in Canada to the northern portions of Mexico. Although they will utilize open areas, bears prefer wooded cover with a dense understory. Bears have a large home range and travel a great deal. Studies in other states indicate the home range of adult males to be 100 to 120 square miles in upland hardwood habitats, 24 to 50 square miles for females. Movements of 125 miles from a denning site have been documented. Black bears are crepuscular, meaning they are active early in the morning and late in the evening. Daily timing of movements may be influenced by human activities. Bears in high human activity areas tend to be more nocturnal in their movements while dawn and dusk are the periods of primary movement among bears in low human activity areas.  Report a Black Bear: To report observations of black bears, submit a report online via the Wildlife Species Sighting Report, or contact your local county wildlife officer or regional District Wildlife Office. What To Do If You Encounter a Bear Black bears are usually fearful of people, therefore bear attacks are a rare occurrence. Bears do not attack or kill children or pets as long as the bear is given its space and not cornered. The first thing to do when you see a bear is REMAIN CALM. Generally, black bears are non-aggressive and prefer to flee from the area as soon as they are aware of your presence. If you encounter a bear, and it is not aware of your presence, simply back away from the area slowly. If the bear is aware of your presence and it does not leave the area, avoid direct eye contact with the animal, give the bear an easy escape route and again, simply back slowly away from the area. Always avoid running or climbing trees, which may provoke a chase. An easy way to remember this is to be AWARE:
Bear-Proofing Your Backyard Black bears are large animals and can cause significant damage while in search of an easy meal. If your yard is being visited by a black bear there are several things that must be done to ensure that the animal doesn’t become a “problem bear”. A “problem bear” can be defined as an animal that has lost its natural fear of humans and habitually causes property damage while in search of food. In this instance all potential food attractants must be removed from the area. This includes:
Bear Relocation: The Ohio Division of Wildlife does not relocate bears just because one is present in an area. Bears live in Ohio year round. They will continue to come back to a location if food sources are available to them. Hazing the bear off is the first step in dealing with nuisance bears. Black bears are only relocated if DOW personnel determine 1) the animal is in a situation where escape is unlikely, 2) it is a threat to public safety, or 3) a sociological conflict is probable. Best Places for Black Bears Forested areas in:
2023 Update Black bears are a state endangered species that occurs in forested habitats throughout the eastern half of Ohio. Black bear sightings in Ohio have been increasing since the Division of Wildlife began tracking sightings in 1993. In 2022, 285 sightings were reported in 52 counties, 161 of which were confirmed based on the presence of evidence such as photos or tracks. Sightings occur throughout the year but are most common in late May through early July. The number of individual black bears present in the state each year is estimated based on the number and location of confirmed reports, but it is not known how many of these individuals remain present in the state year-round. It is likely that the majority of bears seen in Ohio are young male bears dispersing from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In the absence of a resident female, dispersing male bears are not likely to remain in an area for an extended period of time, and until recently, there has not been much evidence of resident female bears in Ohio. However, in recent years, evidence of adult females with cubs have been documented in several counties in northeast Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border. Adult female bears show strong home range fidelity, meaning once they establish a range, they tend to stay there. This recent evidence of reproduction occurring in the state is a positive indicator for the future of the Ohio black bear population. Black Bears in Ohio - In the News! Ohio Black Bears, making a comeback - Hocking Hills Park https://hockinghills.com/featstory/bears.html Although black bears are native to Ohio, their numbers were all but depleted by hunting when settlers moved into the area in the 1800s. Now that the settlers are gone, and much of Ohio's woodlands have regrown, a few young bears are returning from neighboring states to take advantage of the favorable conditions and establish home ranges of their own. Black Bears | Cleveland Metroparks https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/about/conservation/current-issues/black-bears Black bears inhabited Ohio prior to settlement of the region, but by the 1850's black bears were considered extirpated (removed completely) from Ohio. Unregulated hunting and deforestation as farms, towns, and industry were established in Ohio in the 1800's contributed to the reduction in black bear numbers. Remaining bears were either shot or trapped to protect livestock and crops. Bear | Hudson, OH - Official Website
www.hudson.oh.us/481/Bear Bears in Hudson Bears are sighted every year in Hudson, Ohio. This photo shows a bear that wandered through Hudson backyards in 2012. The Ohio Division of Wildlife does not relocate bears. Bears live in Ohio year-round, and will continue to return to areas where a food source is available.
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