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Black bear wanders into Youngstown
Photo
A black bear curls up on a limb of a tree at Belmont and Parmalee avenues in Youngstown on Sunday. Dr. Chander Kohli took the photo from the third-floor surgeons’ lounge at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Dr. Chander Kohli visited Yellowstone National Park last year and saw bears from far off.
From about 11:30 a.m. to noon Sunday, he watched a black bear sit in a tree at the corner of Parmalee and Belmont avenues. His vantage point was the third-floor surgeons’ lounge at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
“I was closer to a bear here in Youngstown than at Yellowstone,” Kohli said.
The neurosurgeon and chairman of the board of trustees at Northeastern Ohio Medical School and former Youngstown State University trustee said nurses had told him about reports of a black bear in the area. In fact, he said, the center’s Belmont entrance was closed for a time.
Kohli said he watched the bear in the tree about 30 minutes. “I was shocked and excited to see it,” he said. “It seemed like it was resting.”
The physician took photos of the bear. “It really was something different to see the bear.”
Police reported that the bear was sighted Saturday afternoon along Albert Street and then turned up Sunday morning in the St. Elizabeth and Wick Park areas. Police said two officers were on the scene until about 2:30 p.m.
Jamey Emmert, spokesperson for the wildlife division of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, confirmed that a black bear was being monitored by a biologist, supervisor and two area wildlife officers. “They are trying to keep track of the bear and monitor his position,” she said.
Emmert said the wildlife division officers would “remain on the scene into the evening” to keep an eye on the situation. “We’ll stay as long as needed,” she said. The bear had gone into a wooded area, she said.
Emmert said the bear, which appears smaller and young, is most likely a male ousted by his mother who probably has a new cub. “They stay with their mothers about a year and a half, then mom gives them the boot,” Emmert said. “They wander off and establish a territory of their own.”
She said these bears usually weigh 150 pounds. “Their ears look too big for their heads. They might look scrawny,” she said.
These bears, and maybe this one, may have traveled from southern Ohio or western Pennsylvania, where habitat is more favorable. She said in the last few years, black bears have been spotted in Trumbull County and in Boardman and Canfield. “They’re transitory bears that might be seen through August,” she said.
Emmert said black bears are “considered an endangered species.” Mahoning County doesn’t have the habitat to support a bear, so the animal most likely will move on, she said. “He wants to be left alone.”
The wildlife division spokeswoman advised anyone seeing or encountering the bear “to give it space.” She added the bear may wander in the area for a few days before leaving.
“This is not a positive experience for the bear ... it’s under stress and frightened,” Emmert said.
She said the wildlife division would not interfere with the bear unless it becomes aggressive. “We would take action. We have a procedure,” Emmert said.
In the meantime, Emmert advises Valley residents to bring in any pet food or birdseed outdoors. “Bears are opportunistic feeders,” she said. “They’ll go for an easy meal.” She also said to store barbecue grills, which also may attract a bear.
Emmert warned curious people not to “corner a bear because the animal will fight back.”
If one accidentally encounters a bear, she said, stay calm, back away slowly and make noise. “Look as big as possible ... put your arms up,” Emmert said.