Bear Euthanized After Being Struck by Truck in Richland County
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) euthanized a black bear after it was struck by a pickup truck in Richland County.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), an 18-year-old man was driving a pickup truck while pulling a livestock trailer on State Route 546 in Perry Township on Saturday morning when the bear walked into the road in front of the vehicle.
The bear was seriously injured, and troopers called ODNR officers to the scene to euthanize the animal. The driver was not injured.
This incident marks the third black bear sighting in Central Ohio in recent days. Earlier this month, ODNR confirmed sightings in Morrow and Licking counties. The sighting in Licking County was the first in 20 years, according to the agency.
The recent bear sightings highlight the increasing presence of these animals in Central Ohio, prompting concerns among local residents and wildlife authorities.
