Neighbors in Greenhills got an unexpected visitor when a small black bear was spotted sprinting through the village, darting across the Commons, and scrambling up a tree, startling residents and drawing in local police and state wildlife officials. The close encounter lands right as Ohio is seeing a notable bump in black-bear reports.
The brief clip, shared with WLWT by viewer JaJuan Laster, appears to show a young black bear hustling up a tree on Damon Road. The video made its way to the station yesterday and has been making the rounds among curious and slightly rattled locals.
Greenhills police followed up with their own footage, posting dash-cam video that shows an officer trying to spotlight the animal as it crossed the grassy stretch known as the Commons. According to WCPO, the bear was last seen behind Our Lady of the Rosary Church at 17 Farragut Road. Officers relayed the sighting to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources so state wildlife staff could track the wandering animal.
Statewide surge in sightings
Across Ohio, black-bear reports have been climbing quickly. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recorded 537 reported sightings in 2025 across 69 counties and confirmed 289 of those, the highest totals since the state began keeping track, according to Spectrum News. Wildlife officials and local outlets note that activity often spikes from late May into early July, when younger bears leave their mothers and start roaming on their own, as WLWT reported.
Officials tracking a roaming bear
To keep tabs on bears like the one spotted in Greenhills, wildlife officers lean on photos, trail cameras, and their own field observations. Brett Beatty of the ODNR told FOX19 that the animal seen roaming the Tri-State is likely a young male, a type of bear that can cover roughly 8 612 miles in a single day as it searches for new territory. ODNR is urging residents to send in any photos or videos through the agency's online reporting system so biologists can verify sightings and map the bear’s movements.
How neighbors can stay safe
While a black bear trotting past the church is not exactly a normal Monday in Greenhills, police are stressing calm over panic. Greenhills Police Chief Jim Howarth told WCPO, "They don't like noise, so be loud to scare them off," and warned residents not to corner the animal.
Officials are also reminding people to make their yards a little less appealing to a curious bear. That means securing trash, taking down bird feeders, and keeping pet food indoors so smells do not draw the animal in, guidance echoed by Spectrum News.
Greenhills police say they will keep an eye on the area and want anyone with photos or video to share them with local authorities or send them through the ODNR website so biologists can continue tracking the bear, according to FOX19. For now, village officials say the animal appears to have moved away from more heavily traveled streets, although they are urging residents to stay alert as early-summer bear activity reaches its usual peak.
