UPDATED: Black bear moving through Highland County
The Highland County Press
At least one black bear has been sighted in several areas of Highland County, Wildlife Officer Jim Carnes reports this week.
As first reported by The Highland County Press, SATH Executive Director Linda Allen was alerted to the bear during this week's 34th annual KAMP Dovetail at Rocky Fork Lake State Park. She received a call from park officials that a bear had been seen in the Marshall area and near state Route 124 and North Shore Drive. Allen cautioned her camp leaders about the report.
[[In-content Ad]]
On Wednesday morning, Carnes told The Highland County Press "We still have a black bear moving through Highland County. The first sighting was over on Ferneau Road in Paint Township.
"It moved east with multiple sightings between the Marshall and Carmel areas of Brush Creek and Washington Townships, moving toward S.R. 124 near the dog pound in Liberty Township and crossing over in the 6000 block of S.R. 73 south. It was last reported crossing over Concord Road at U.S. 62 south of Hillsboro in New Market Township.
"It's obvious it's a young juvenile bear, probably a male that was pushed out from its mother," Carnes said.
Earlier this month a black bear was struck and killed by a motorist in Fairfield County along Route 33.
According to the Division of Wildlife, black bears inhabited Ohio prior to settlement and growth of towns, farm and other industry in the region. By the mid-1800s, this growth, deforestation and unregulated hunting led to their rapid decline.
If a black bear encounter occurs, officials say to resist the urge to scream or run. Stay calm and give the bear space, then slowly back away or go out and around the bear.