\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDeep in the woods of western Massachusetts, wildlife biologist Dave Wattles is living out a lifelong dream \u2014 working with black bears.\u201cIt was always a dream of mine to study and work with bears,\u201d says Wattles, lead black bear biologist for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.His job is to monitor the state\u2019s growing bear population. Over the past 40 years, black bears have steadily returned to much of Massachusetts, expanding far beyond their historic stronghold in the Berkshires.\u201cWe now have bears living inside the Interstate 495 corridor in eastern Massachusetts,\u201d Wattles says. \u201cThere are probably around 5,000 bears in the entire state.\u201dEach spring, Wattles and his team visit bear dens to study survival, reproduction, and behavior. On this particular day, they approach a den where a female bear \u2014 first tagged by MassWildlife in 2019 \u2014 has been hibernating since November.Carefully and quietly, the team immobilizes the mother bear so they can work safely. Then comes the surprise inside the den.Three cubs emerge.\u201cGenerally speaking, two to three cubs is what we anticipate,\u201d Wattles says, smiling as the tiny animals wriggle in the snow. \u201cThey\u2019re basically like little teddy bears.\u201dAt six to eight weeks old, the cubs weigh just a few pounds and rely entirely on their mother\u2019s milk. Within a year, they\u2019ll disperse on their own, learning how to survive in the forest.For now, researchers move quickly. They weigh the cubs and download data from the mother\u2019s tracking collar, which records her movements. Past data shows this bear has crossed the Massachusetts Turnpike more than a dozen times \u2014 a risky journey.\u201cVehicle collisions are a major source of mortality,\u201d Wattles says.Bears are highly adaptable, capable of thriving in forests and suburbs alike. But that adaptability can create challenges when bears find food in neighborhoods.\u201cIf you feed birds and a bear is coming to your feeder, please stop,\u201d Wattles advises. \u201cWe want them using natural foods and the natural landscape.\u201dAfter about two hours, the work is done. The cubs are tucked back beside their mother, who will soon wake up, unaware anything happened.Find out more about bears in the wild and what to do if you encounter one here.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tCHICOPEE, Mass. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Deep in the woods of western Massachusetts, wildlife biologist Dave Wattles is living out a lifelong dream \u2014 working with black bears.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was always a dream of mine to study and work with bears,\u201d says Wattles, lead black bear biologist for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.<\/p>\n
His job is to monitor the state\u2019s growing bear population. Over the past 40 years, black bears have steadily returned to much of Massachusetts, expanding far beyond their historic stronghold in the Berkshires.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe now have bears living inside the Interstate 495 corridor in eastern Massachusetts,\u201d Wattles says. \u201cThere are probably around 5,000 bears in the entire state.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each spring, Wattles and his team visit bear dens to study survival, reproduction, and behavior. On this particular day, they approach a den where a female bear \u2014 first tagged by MassWildlife in 2019 \u2014 has been hibernating since November.<\/p>\n
Carefully and quietly, the team immobilizes the mother bear so they can work safely. Then comes the surprise inside the den.<\/p>\n
Three cubs emerge.<\/p>\n
\u201cGenerally speaking, two to three cubs is what we anticipate,\u201d Wattles says, smiling as the tiny animals wriggle in the snow. \u201cThey\u2019re basically like little teddy bears.\u201d<\/p>\n
At six to eight weeks old, the cubs weigh just a few pounds and rely entirely on their mother\u2019s milk. Within a year, they\u2019ll disperse on their own, learning how to survive in the forest.<\/p>\n
For now, researchers move quickly. They weigh the cubs and download data from the mother\u2019s tracking collar, which records her movements. Past data shows this bear has crossed the Massachusetts Turnpike more than a dozen times \u2014 a risky journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cVehicle collisions are a major source of mortality,\u201d Wattles says.<\/p>\n
Bears are highly adaptable, capable of thriving in forests and suburbs alike. But that adaptability can create challenges when bears find food in neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you feed birds and a bear is coming to your feeder, please stop,\u201d Wattles advises. \u201cWe want them using natural foods and the natural landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n
After about two hours, the work is done. The cubs are tucked back beside their mother, who will soon wake up, unaware anything happened.<\/p>\n