Patrick bonds with bears during survey in Conway

CONWAY, Mass. (WWLP) - Governor Deval Patrick got up-close-and-personal with two black bear cubs on Monday morning, as he helped state wildlife officials track members of the species in Franklin County.

The Governor was in Deerfield for the annual survey, which is designed to help officials better understand the conditions and habitats of the black bear population in the state.

As part of what the governor witnessed Monday morning, a mother bear was immobilized while GPS tracking collars were put on her and two of her cubs.

The Governor even got to pick up one of the cubs and carry him around inside his jacket.

"Bear cubs look a lot like teddy bears- in fact they grow up to be big black bears," Patrick said. "There are some 4,000 to 4,500 black bears, I think is the estimated population here in the Commonwealth as far east as Worcester and Worcester County, and certainly out in the western part of the state."

Tom O’Shea Assistant Director of Wildlife at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife , told 22News that the survey is done in early March, because at this time of year the cubs are now old enough that they have their eyes open, and can be away from their mothers for short periods of time.

O'Shea said the size of the bear cub litters appears to be growing, especially in the Northampton area. Wildlife officials are seeing bears with as many as three cubs in a litter