CONWAY – Holding a baby black bear is just one of the perks of being a state secretary.
Richard K. Sullivan, secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, had the opportunity to cuddle cubs recently as he and Gov. Deval Patrick joined the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Commissioner Mary Griffin and state wildlife officials on an expedition to document the newest members of the Commonwealth’s black bear population.
The team discovered two cubs born approximately four to six weeks ago. The cubs, both male, weighed in at approximately six pounds. Based on last year’s breeding status, the Conway bear is one of 16 radio-collared sows believed to have given birth this winter.
While newborn cubs are too small to tag or collar, MassWildlife records each cub’s physical condition, weight and gender. Biologists also check the physical condition of mother bears, as well as the condition and fit of their radio collars.
Westfield resident Sullivan said the cubs enjoyed the attention.
“They love to be held, and especially to snuggle inside your jacket,” said Sullivan. “They like to be warm.”
Information gathered at the den in Conway adds to that compiled through one of longest, continuous studies of black bears in the United States. DFG’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) began the study with the Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1970.
MassWildlife has been solely responsible for the project since 1999 and is currently examining reproductive success, cub survival, adult female survival and human-bear interactions. Numbering only about 100 bears when the study began, the Massachusetts black bear population has grown to approximately 3,000 today.
Although black bears are becoming more common in central Massachusetts and are occasionally sighted in eastern communities, most of MassWildlife’s bear research takes place west of the Connecticut River.
With the aid of radio telemetry, MassWildlife is currently tracking 16 female bears, also known as sows, to determine adult female survival and cub production and survival – key components of the Division’s black bear population model. MassWildlife does not collar male bears, but ear-tags them to provide future knowledge about survival and movement.
Contrary to popular belief, black bears don’t go into true hibernation in winter. Rather, they sleep soundly in their dens from November or December until early March to mid-April, but may wake up to forage in mild weather.
Sullivan said because mother bears may be awake, they are given a tranquilizer before they and the cubs are examined.
Black bears are found in 43 states. Those in Massachusetts average 230 pounds for males and 140 pounds for females. They are omnivores – eating a variety of foods from vegetation and berries to grubs, insects and carrion – and are excellent climbers, frequently using trees to rest and to protect their young.
Black bears mate between mid-June and mid-July and cubs are born in mid- to late-January. Cubs remain in the den until April and stay with their mother. Females typically have their first litter when they are thee-four years old.
Sullivan said the cubs are cared for by the mothers for about 18 months.
“Then she sends them out on their own,” he said.
The outing was was one the more fun aspects of Sullivan’s job.
“They were very cute,” he said.
