1, 2, 3... Rangers Count Moose At Rocky Mountain National Park

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (CBS4)- For the first time, rangers at Rocky Mountain National Park are putting GPS collars on some of the moose to get a better idea of how many live there.

The moose population at the park is growing every year.

The collars are part of an ongoing research project. Analysts are trying to figure out where moose gather the most in the park as well as how the animals are influencing the ecosystem.

"That's a really important habitat for lots of fish and birds and plants and animals," said Hanem Abouelezz with the National Park Service. "It is important for their survival, reproduction so when we see one species increasing we say hey maybe this is something we should take a look at."

They also want to know the animal's population growth rate and the maximum number of moose the park can sustain.

Forty moose will get collars to start the program.