06/11/2025

First Black Bear Sighting of 2025 in Licking County

This was the first sighting there in more than 20 years

A black bear was caught on camera roaming a field east of Pataskala Tuesday morning, marking the first confirmed sighting in Licking County in more than 20 years, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The bear, most likely a young male, was spotted near York Road, and wildlife officials say it’s likely just passing through. Black bears are considered endangered in Ohio, and sightings in Licking County remain rare — the last sighting was in 2003. Before that, there were only five others spotted in the county since 1994.

ODNR says many of the bears that are spotted in Ohio are young males dispersing, which means that they are wandering long distances looking for females. They added that since there are few resident females in the state they tend to move on quickly.

Please select this link to read the complete article from WBNS-10TV.