Ohio's woodlands and forests find themselves home to a variety of wildlife. It's vast farm lands provide an excellant food source to a large host of wildlife. Ranging from Coyotes, Bears, Fox, Bobcat, and many more, it is almost a daily ocurrence in the Ohio Valley to see wild animals while traveling through the state. Ohio has one of the largest White Tail Deer populations around. And animals once extirpated from the area are making a comeback in the Ohio Valley. Beavers are once again calling Ohio's many streams and rivers home. In the last 15 years the Coyote population has grown to the point where in some counties they are considered a threat to other wildlife. The Great Bald Eagle can be seen once again, soaring high overhead, searching for it's daily prey. almost all of Ohio's wildlife enjoys the status of being a "protected" species. This allows the populations to grow, and suceed in the rich environment offered here. The fact that Ohio's industry and residential areas are growing, has provided a great deal of acclimation to human presence. Animals that once ran at the mere sound of a human, now stand and look on in curiosity. Along with the growing population of wildlife , comes the growing concerns for other problems to arise. Rabies for example, is becoming a common word in Ohio once again. Racoons and Bats are found to carry this disease on a regular basis. Crop damage and livestock kills also are on the rise leading some residents and law makers to believe that population controls need to be put in place on our wildlife. But most of all, Ohio's wildlife can be, and are, directly responsible for the many "Bigfoot" sightings and sounds that are reported. In this section we will explain the different habits and life styles of many of our animal friends to better explain how they are often mistaken for something they are not.

The Black Bear The Black Bear of Ohio. By the late 1850's Black Bears had been extirpated from the Ohio Valley. They, along with the Eastern Timber Wolf, had been driven out by settlers and farmers. But within the mid 1980's, Black Bears began to make a comeback in the Ohio Valley. To date, there are confirmed sightings that cover the entire eastern half of Ohio. In fact by 2005, 25 counties in Ohio had confirmed reports of Black Bear sightings. There have been numerous reports of domestic and farm animals who have fallen prey to Ohio's Bear. And it is believed that many alleged "Bigfoot" sightings can be attributed to the Black Bear. Not always black, their colors can be a range of browns, and reddish browns. Their size is often exploited, for a Bear, they are rather small. Adult Bears can range from 2-3 feet in length and weigh in from 125 to 600 pounds. They prefer to live in hardwood forest areas, but can be seen on occaision, taking a leisurely stroll through an open meadow. Like the Coyote, Black Bears are omnivores, and will make a meal out of just about anything. They are excellant tree climbers, and despite their size and bulk, swift runners. Seen at a distance climbing a tree, it would be easy to mistake a Black Bear for a creature that is "covered in fur and 10-12 feet tall. The groaning and grunting sounds made by the Black Bear could also make up for the many reports of "Bigfoot" grunting at someone from close by. Mother Bears are heard to make a long mournful howl as they summon their cubs. In addition, the large, clawed footprints left behind by a wandering Bear, can and often are attributed to the legend of Sasquatch. The Black Bear are protected in the State of Ohio, and their numbers continue to slowly increase. One can only speculate that perhaps one day we will see the return of the Eastern Timber Wolf as well. To date, despite the many claims, Wolves do not inhabit the Ohio Valley.