Black bear spotted in Clinton County? Posts go viral amid reported sightings – WLWT

A black bear in Clinton County? It may sound far-fetched, but wildlife officials say it’s true.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources confirms a bear was spotted just south of Wilmington.
The bear is believed to have wandered off from its mother in search of new territory.
The sighting caused quite the commotion, with Clinton County agencies having their own fun like the Wilmington Police Department, who posted a photoshopped photo with the caption, “I wonder if the Clinton County Jail will book Mr. Bear for us?”

The Clinton County History Center also had their fun, posting an edit with the caption, “Clinton County’s most famous resident made sure to visit the History Center in order to learn more about the history of his new community!”
Black bears are rare in Ohio and are considered a state-endangered species. At one point, in the mid-1800s, the species had disappeared from the states. However, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife says that over the past few decades, black bears have been naturally recolonizing from healthy populations in bordering areas.

Reports and sightings have been increasing, with most seen in the northeast and southern portion of the state.
ODNR said that in order to learn more about how the species is recolonizing in the state, they’ve partnered with the University of Dayton’s Gantchoff Lab to track how it’s expanding.
The two organizations recently collared a female black bear in Ashtabula County to learn more about how this species is expanding its range in Ohio.
ODNR says it’s the first time a female black bear in Ohio has been fitted with a GPS collar.

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