Public on a 'bear hunt,' police close park

The black bear that has been clawing around Greater Cincinnati for about two weeks has made another appearance, and this time people are determined to get a peek.

Experts say the bear, which was first sighted in Miami Township June 24, swam across the Ohio River from Kentucky. Officials waited for days for the male black bear to make its way back into more rural areas, and it was last spotted June 29 in Oakley.

It remained incognito for about a week, flying under the radar and remaining unseen. But Tuesday morning, Union Township residents began to report sightings again.

At about 6:30 a.m., the bear was spotted on Marieda Drive off old Ohio 74 near Eastgate. Later Tuesday morning, it made its way to Clepper Park off of Summerside Road.

And by noon, it had drawn a crowd.

"We're going close (Clepper Park) down for now because the residents in the area are quite curious, so they're entering the woods trying to find the bear," said Union Township police dispatcher Bill Hess. "They're on a bear hunt there."

Hess said the bear had not been aggressive; the closure of the park is a precaution. There is no estimated time of reopening.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources officials have said the bear does not pose a safety threat. It will be more more scared of you than you will be of it, they have said.

However, Brett Beatty, wildlife management supervisor, advised against approaching the bear.

"We don't want folks chasing the bear or anything like that. If it happens through your back yard, by all means please enjoy it, it's a rare sight, but we don't need folks going down to … chase the bear," he said. "We want the bear to make his own way back, we don't want to force the bear to make a bad decision."