A quiet Pierce Township weekend got a jolt today when neighbors spotted a black bear roaming near the end of Kipling Crossing, prompting a swift response from local police and wildlife crews.
Officers shared a photo of the animal from the area and asked residents to give the bear plenty of space while teams monitored its movements. Police said there were no injuries tied to the sighting and that they were following up on calls from nearby homes.
The Pierce Township Police Department posted the image and location details on social media, showing the bear at the end of Kipling Crossing, as reported by WLWT. According to the station, officers received multiple calls after neighbors first saw the animal, and police urged extra caution in the affected neighborhood. Authorities stressed that anyone who encounters the bear should contact local law enforcement instead of trying t o get closer.
Record sightings across Ohio
Ohio has been seeing more of these visitors lately. In 2025, the state logged a record 537 black bear sightings in 69 counties, according to the Ohio Division of Natural Resources' monitoring report, as reported by Spectrum News 1. Wildlife officials say many of the bears moving through Ohio are transient males roaming for new territory rather than members of a permanent local population. Tracking and occasionally collaring bears is helping biologists map where the animals travel and how often they pass through populated areas.
How to reduce encounters
Local officials repeated the standard playbook for neighborhoods that suddenly find themselves sharing space with a bear: keep trash secured in garages or bear‑proof containers, take down bird feeders for now, store pet food indoors, and clean grease from outdoor grills. Those tips were relayed by the Pierce Township Police Department and reported by WLWT. Residents who snap photos or video of the bear are being asked to save them and share them directly with authorities so they can help with tracking efforts.
Why sightings peak now
Wildlife officials and local reporting note that late spring and early summer tend to bring a bump in bear activity, as young bears disperse from their birth areas and breeding-related movement increases. Regional coverage has pointed to a rise in reports around Greater Cincinnati this season as transient bears pass through. For most encounters, officials advise staying calm, giving the animal room to leave, and resisting any urge to approach or feed it, as per Richland Source.
Anyone who spots a bear is urged not to approach it and to contact local law enforcement immediately. In Pierce Township, police can be reached at 513-752-4100, according to the township website. Officials also ask that sightings be reported to the Ohio Division of Natural Resources through its existing reporting channels so biologists can continue to track bear movements, as noted in recent coverage. Residents are encouraged to keep a safe distance, secure potential attractants around their property, and share any photos with authorities instead of drawing additional people to the scene.
