Wait, did you hear about the bear in Ashtabula? Not just a sighting, but a full-blown capture. Honestly, it’s a big deal because for the longest time, Ohio was basically a "drive-through" state for bears. They’d wander in from Pennsylvania or West Virginia, look around, realize there were no girls to hang out with, and head right back across the border.
But things are changing.
The ohio black bear gps collar program is the newest tool in the shed for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). It’s helping us figure out if these bears are actually moving in for good or just visiting. If you've been following the news, you probably know that black bears were totally wiped out of Ohio by the mid-1800s. We’re talking zero. Zilch. Now, they’re making a comeback, and it's not just the young, wandering males anymore.
Why the Collar Matters More Than a Sighting
A blurry photo on a trail cam is cool, but it doesn't tell a story. It’s just a snapshot. A GPS collar? That’s a diary.
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In June 2025, biologists from the Division of Wildlife and the University of Dayton’s Gantchoff Lab did something they’d never done before: they put a collar on a female. This sow was caught on private land in Ashtabula County. She weighed 198 pounds—a healthy size for an Ohio resident—and was estimated to be between 5 and 10 years old.
Why is a female bear a game-changer?
- Females are homebodies. Unlike males who might trek 100 miles just because they’re bored, females pick a spot and stay there.
- Cubs follow the mom. If she’s collared, we know where the next generation is being born.
- Population growth. You can't have a resident population without the ladies.
Before this, the team collared a male in July 2024. Watching these two different "personalities" move through the Ohio brush gives researchers like furbearer biologist Katie Dennison a map of where Ohio’s "bear-friendly" neighborhoods actually are.
The High-Tech Hardware Behind the ohio black bear gps collar
The tech is actually pretty slick. These aren't just heavy leather straps with a battery taped to them.
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The collars are programmed to send location pings every few hours. This data goes straight to a satellite and then to a computer, so a biologist can see where the bear had breakfast without ever leaving the office. But they don't stay on forever. That’s a common misconception. Most people think these bears are "chained" to the tech for life. In reality, these collars have a "drop-off" mechanism.
Basically, after about 18 months, a small charge or a timed release triggers, and the collar just falls off in the woods. The researchers then go out, find the collar using its last signal, and swap the batteries for the next bear. It’s designed so the bear doesn’t outgrow the collar or get stuck on a branch.
What We're Seeing on the Map
It’s not just random wandering. The data from the ohio black bear gps collar is showing that bears are utilizing the deep "fingers" of forest that reach into Northeast and Southeast Ohio.
Ashtabula, Trumbull, and Geauga counties are the current hotspots. Why? Because they’re right on the doorstep of Pennsylvania’s massive bear population. If you look at the 2022 stats, sightings jumped to 285—that’s a huge spike compared to the usual 50 to 100 we’ve seen for decades.
Dealing With the Neighbors
Let’s be real: bears in Ohio mean bears near people.
One of the big reasons for the collaring project is to study "human-bear conflict." This is a fancy way of saying "bears eating your birdseed." The GPS data shows how often bears are skirting around the edges of towns versus staying deep in the woods.
Pro tip for the locals: If you live in bear country (Eastern Ohio), and you see a bear with a collar or ear tags, don't panic. It’s not a "problem bear" that was moved there. It’s a research bear. The tags just mean the state knows who he is.
If you do run into one:
- Remove the buffet. Take down bird feeders from May to July.
- Lock the trash. If it smells like pizza, a bear will find it.
- Give them space. A bear with a collar is still a wild animal, not a pet.
How Many Are Really Out There?
Estimates are tricky. Some say 50, some say closer to 100 "resident" bears. But the "tourist" population is much higher. The goal of the current research is to collar between 10 and 20 bears over the next few years.
Once that data starts pouring in, we’ll have a much better answer than just "some." We’ll know if the population is truly "expanding" or just "fluctuating." Honestly, it’s an exciting time for Ohio wildlife. Seeing a species come back from the brink of local extinction is a rare win.
Your Next Steps for Bear Safety and Research
If you’re interested in the progress of the ohio black bear gps collar program or want to help out, you don't need a degree in biology.
- Report your sightings. If you see a bear, use the HuntFish OH mobile app or go to wildohio.gov. Your "dot on the map" helps biologists decide where to set their research traps next.
- Secure your property. Check your local ordinances on bear-proof trash cans if you’re in the northeast or southeast quadrants of the state.
- Follow the Gantchoff Lab. The University of Dayton often posts updates on their wildlife research projects, providing a deeper look at how the data is being used to protect both bears and people.