WARREN COUNTY — A man driving on state Route 741 said he spotted what he believed was a bear along the side of the road, but state wildlife experts believe it may be a cow.
Patrick Cade told our news partners at WCPO-TV that he immediately turned his truck around and recorded the sighting around 11 p.m. Monday.
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Cade told WCPO-TV, “You never think you would see it in southwest Ohio.”
“Our staff has looked at the video but the quality and lighting make it difficult to confirm as a bear. It looks like a cow,” said Kathy Garza-Behr spokesperson for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
Cade said he made eye contact as he drove past and decided to record it because he didn’t think anyone would believe him.
“I think I kind of startled it a little bit,” Cade said. “It seemed a little shy with the lights and my diesel motor running, so it turned the opposite direction and started to walk off and then jump back into the field where I believe it probably came from,” Cade told WCPO-TV.
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There are have been three confirmed bear sightings in Warren County between 1993 and 2018, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s most recent black bear monitoring report.
“While black bears are increasing in northeast and southeast portions of the state they are still very uncommon in southwest Ohio. They are also much less active at this time of the year,” Garza-Behr said. “Most sightings happen from May to early July and taper by fall.”
The Ohio Division of Wildlife said it’s important for people to remember if you come across a bear to not approach or impede the area it is moving through.
“The bear is just as scared of you,” Garza Behr said. “They generally want to avoid confrontation. It can be scared away by clapping your hands or yelling at it.”
CONFIRMED BLACK BEAR SIGHTINGS IN OHIO (1993-2018, Source: Ohio Division of Wildlife):
Montgomery County: 1
Warren County: 3
Clinton County: 1