A black bear was found wandering an Athens neighborhood as sightings continue to rise in Ohio

By: Ebenezer Amartey
Posted on: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — There were reports of black bear sightings across neighborhoods in Athens last week, prompting state wildlife officials to remind residents of safety tips.  

Reports of the latest black bear sighting began circulating on Facebook Friday, with residents sharing observations online. In a Facebook post by Lora Cooper, the black bear is seen casually strolling through her backyard. 

Michael Donofrio, a wildlife research technician with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources office in Athens, said the report remains unconfirmed because officials have not received photographic evidence or independently verified the animal’s presence. 

“Unless there’s photographic evidence that someone reports to our sighting page so that our report can be verified by a trained observer, a biologist, or someone like me,” he said. “But my understanding is that it showed up on one of the secondary streets. From our reports, Athens County typically gets about 63 sightings a year from 1993 to 2025. So, bear sightings in Athens are not unheard of. Black bears are becoming more prevalent in the state of Ohio.” 

ODNR records show that statewide, black bear sightings have increased in recent years. ODNR received a record 537 sightings across 69 Ohio counties in 2025. Over the past decade, ODNR’s Division of Wildlife has averaged 239 black bear sighting reports per year. 

According to Donofrio, most bears seen in southeast Ohio are young males dispersing from their mothers and searching for new territory. He estimates the Athens black bear is likely a year-and-a-half-old male weighing between 125 and 150 pounds. 

“The males typically wander a lot more than the females. They’re looking for territory and looking for a mate,” Donofrio said “Bears are trickling in from Pennsylvania, and certainly the bears in southeast Ohio could also be bears from Pennsylvania. “If it’s a male, we are at the tail end of his breeding season, which peaks around June.” 

ODNR is currently studying Ohio’s growing black bear population in partnership with the University of Dayton. Researchers are using radio collars to track bear movements and better understand habitat use, population trends and migration patterns.

Although black bears can appear intimidating, Donofrio said they generally avoid human contact. Residents who encounter a bear should keep their distance, avoid approaching the animal and make noise so the bear is aware of their presence. 

“The difference between black bears and Grizzly bears is that with black bears, you can’t intimidate them. You can make yourself look big. Yell, scream, throw stuff at it. For the most part, it is going to go the other way. So, the best way to interact with a bear is from a distance, because you never know what it’s going to do,” he cautioned. 

ODNR also advises residents to remove outdoor pet food after feeding, secure garbage containers and avoid intentionally feeding bears. 

Officials are not currently planning to trap or relocate the reported bear unless it becomes a threat to public safety. 

“For the most part, we’re not trapping or removing the bear,” Donofrio said. “It’s probably back in West Virginia or another county over by now. They move a lot.” 

Residents who see a bear are encouraged to report sightings through ODNR’s Wildlife Species Sighting Report system, with photographs and location information, which can help biologists verify reports and monitor Ohio’s expanding black bear population.