AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Sightings of black bears in Ohio dropped a bit in 2014 from the year before.
The Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife says there were 135 reported sightings believed to involve an estimated 88 bears. State personnel confirmed 60 sightings.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports more individual bears were thought to be spotted in 2014 than in the previous year. For 2013, 158 sightings were reported, but those were believed to involve only 74 bears.
There were reports of black bears in 43 of Ohio's 88 counties last year. Ashtabula and Trumbull counties in northeast Ohio had the most sightings, with 21 each.
Half the reports came between May and June, coinciding with peak breeding and young male bears dispersing.
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Information from: Akron Beacon Journal, http://www.ohio.com