SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Residents in western Lucas County are keeping an eye out for a black bear. The latest sighting was early this morning in the 8100 block of Dorr Street near King Road.
Darlene Euler was one of the people who spotted the animal. "It sounded like a screaming woman. A 15-year-old girl in trouble ... but a deeper roar of a scream," said Euler.
At first, Euler thought it was a raccoon. But she says it was way too big. Euler described the critter as a large, round shadow. "We could hear it running right through the woods around the fence and back into the woods that way. And you could hear the sound three to four minutes. Then it was just gone," said Euler.
What Euler saw was a black bear. According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the bear is about a year and a half old and weighs around 100 pounds.
"Absolutely serious. We've had confirmed sightings. Two of our wildlife officers seen it," said Kevin Newsome.
Newsome says the bear dropped down into Northwest Ohio from Michigan. He says the bear was most likely abandoned by its mother and is searching for a new home. "This is absolutely normal for a bear--a young male bear--to roam this far to try to set up his own territory," said Newsome.
Wildlife officials believe the bear is tracking east toward Toledo. They hope the bear heads back to Michigan where there's less population and traffic.
Wildlife officials say if you see the bear, don't feed or approach it. Contact your local sheriff's department.
