Are There Bears in Hocking Hills? What to Know

Are there bears in Hocking Hills? Yes, a few: black bears pass through southeast Ohio most years, and Ohio DNR has logged 121 bear sightings in Hocking County and 150 in Vinton County, where our cabin sits, since it began tracking in 1993. Bears typically avoid people, and the simple rules below keep it that way.

The numbers are rising across Ohio. In 2025 the state logged 537 sightings in 69 counties, the most on record, and confirmed 289 of them.

Bears in Hocking Hills by the numbers

These counts come from Ohio DNR's black bear monitoring report, published in May 2026.

We couldn't read Hocking County's 2025 row cleanly in the report, so we've left it blank rather than guess. A "confirmed" sighting is one Ohio DNR could verify, usually with a photo or other evidence.

What Ohio DNR says about black bears

Black bears are a state-endangered species in Ohio. They were wiped out by the 1850s through hunting and land clearing, and sightings have climbed since Ohio DNR began tracking them in 1993.

Today they turn up in forested parts of the eastern half of the state, and the Ohio DNR species page names Washington, Athens, Hocking and Vinton as the southeast counties where they're found.

In the northeast, females with cubs show bears are breeding again. In the southeast, the report describes bears mostly moving through.

Adults weigh about 150 to 700 pounds. Males average about 300 pounds and females about 175. They eat grasses, berries, acorns and other nuts, insects and carrion.

When you might see one

Bears are most active at dawn and dusk, and in areas with a lot of people, like the park trails, they tend to move at night. Peak mating season runs from mid-June to mid-July.

What to do if you see a bear

Ohio DNR's advice is simple:

• Don't approach, feed or follow it. Keep your distance and let it move on.
• Stay calm, make noise so it knows you're there, and back away slowly.
• Never provoke or harass a bear.
• Keep pets close, on a leash, and indoors at night as much as you can.
• Report the sighting to Ohio DNR, with a photo and the location if you can get them.

WOUB reported an Ohio DNR wildlife technician's take after a bear wandered through Athens in 2026: for the most part, a bear "is going to go the other way."

At the cabin

Food is what draws bears in, so don't give them a reason to stop. Ohio DNR's advice is to secure trash, pet food, bird feeders and other food outside.

At the cabin, that means keeping trash, coolers and dog food inside or in the car, and bringing in dog bowls after meals. If you're traveling with dogs, take them out on a leash after dark. Our page on Hocking Hills cabins that allow dogs covers the rest of the house rules for pets.

Our take

Are there bears in Hocking Hills? A few, passing through, and seeing one would be a rare story to take home. Follow the basics, keep food put away, and enjoy the woods.

For trail planning, see our ranking of the best Hocking Hills hikes, our guide to dog friendly Hocking Hills and our guide to things to do in Hocking Hills.

Bears in Hocking Hills FAQs

Are there bears in Hocking Hills State Park?

There are bears in the Hocking Hills area, though they're rarely seen on the park trails. Ohio DNR has logged 121 bear sightings in Hocking County since 1993, 56 of them confirmed. Bears are most active at dawn and dusk and typically avoid people, so busy trails in daylight are a less likely place to meet one.

How many bears have been seen in Vinton County?

Ohio DNR has logged 150 bear sightings in Vinton County since 1993, with 99 confirmed. In 2025 alone there were 23 sightings in Vinton County, 19 of them confirmed. Statewide, 2025 set a record with 537 sightings in 69 counties, as black bears slowly return to Ohio's forests.

What should I do if I see a bear in Hocking Hills?

If you see a bear in Hocking Hills, stay calm, keep your distance and let it move on. Make noise so it knows you're there, and back away slowly. Don't approach, feed or follow it, keep pets close, and report the sighting to Ohio DNR with a photo and location if you can.

Are black bears dangerous in Ohio?

Black bears in Ohio typically avoid people, and Ohio DNR's own staff say a bear usually goes the other way. Problems start when bears find food, so secure trash, pet food and bird feeders. Never approach, feed or corner a bear, and give it room to leave.

Do I need to worry about bears with my dog in Hocking Hills?

With your dog in Hocking Hills, follow Ohio DNR's advice for bear country. Keep your dog on a leash on the trails, which the park requires anyway, and keep it indoors at night as much as you can. Bring dog food and bowls inside after meals.