Ohio home to newborn bear cubs

Something magical and quite rare likely is occurring in a least a few hidden locations around Ohio – the birth of newborn black bear cubs.

While black bears are considered rare and endangered in the Buckeye State, the ODNR Division of Wildlife confirms a very small resident population of bruins is present.

While most of the bears seen in Ohio are young juvenile male black bears searching for a new territory, the sighting of female bears (sows) with young cubs have been recorded in recent years. The details of these previous sightings suggest that bears are reproducing successfully in the state.

Black bears mate during summer, typically mid-June through mid-July. However, the fertilized egg is not implanted until early December once the bear has settled in for the winter in a protected den or other habitat.

The mother-to-be carries her young for about six weeks. Bear cubs, are typically born from mid-January through early February.

At birth, these newborn cubs are hairless, sightless and weigh about 8 ounces. By the time they open their eyes at an age of about six weeks (late February through March), they will have gained some body fur and weigh 3 to 4 pounds.

Cubs leave their winter dens with their mothers for the first time at an age of about three months (mid to late spring in Ohio).

The cubs grow rapidly and get to explore their Ohio surroundings throughout the warm season under the care of their mother. They stay with her during the next winter and eventually move out on their own when they are about a year and a half. Black bears are special animals and add to the rich diversity of Ohio’s wildlife populations.