07-07-2025
Black bears reported in Greater Cincinnati
At least one black bear was spotted early July 7 in Greater Cincinnati.
A FOX19 viewer shared videos of the bear walking outside their home on Aspenhill Drive in Springfield Township around 4:15 a.m.
A Greenhills police officer also spotted a black bear on the Commons the same morning.
The bear was last seen behind Our Lady of the Rosary Church at 17 Farragut Road.
It's possible they saw the same bear. The two locations are about an hour apart by foot, according to Google Maps.
Hamilton County dispatch said someone also reported a bear 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.
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 ODNR, 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:
2019: 176 sightings, 77 confirmed.
2020: 154 sightings, 76 confirmed.
2021: 159 sightings, 61 confirmed.
2022: 285 sightings, 161 confirmed.
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 remembering this using the acronym AWARE:
Act calm and do not run.
Warn the bear that you are near. Talk in a firm, calm voice.
Allow space between you and the bear. Step aside and back slowly away. Do not make the bear feel trapped or threatened.
Raise your hands above your head to appear larger if the bear approaches. Clap your hands or shout to scare the bear away.
Exit the area.
Did you see a bear? The state Division of Wildlife wants to know. Report sightings online at or the Wildlife Species Sighting Report. You can also contact your local county wildlife officer or regional District Wildlife Office.
Enquirer media partner FOX19 contributed this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Black bears reported in Springfield Township, Greenhills and on I-275
