Ohio Department Natural Resources Collars First Female Black Bear to Track Statewide Population Expansion

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), in partnership with the University of Dayton’s Gantchoff Lab, has initiated a pioneering study to track black bears in Ohio by fitting a female black bear in Ashtabula County with a GPS collar for the first time in state history. This effort aims to better understand the species' natural recolonization of Ohio, particularly in the northeast and southeast regions, after being driven out in the mid-1800s. The GPS collar provides valuable data on the bear's habitat use, home range, survival, and reproductive behavior, with the collar designed to fall off after about 18 months. The research project plans to collar 10 to 20 bears to monitor population trends and human-bear interactions, noting that most bears currently seen are young males roaming from neighboring states, while the presence of females with cubs indicates establishment of resident populations. ODNR encourages the public to report bear sightings to aid biologists in tracking black bears and other wildlife species across Ohio. This collaborative research underscores the growing black bear population's return to Ohio and the state's efforts to manage and study this endangered species.