Black bears in Hardin County? A recent Facebook post by Ada resident Noah Griffin suggests damage by a black bear. No sightings have been reported by ODNR in the past.

From Ohio Department of Natural Resources
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.