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Yosemite Bears Get High-Tech Tracking Collars

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK (CBS/AP) -- Officials at Yosemite National Park in California say a boost in technology will help them better understand the black bears that live throughout the park.

Park Ranger Scott Gediman said Tuesday that new GPS collars put on bears will allow the wildlife managers to track their movement in the park's remote wilderness areas. Older collars using radio technology limited the tracking to the Yosemite Valley, where most of the campgrounds and hotels are located.

Gediman says the Yosemite Conservancy donated $70,000 to buy the new collars.

Park Superintendent Don Neubacher says the information collected from the new GPS tracking equipment will help keep bears wild and people safe.

Park officials say similar GPS technology has helped them successfully monitored bighorn sheep reintroduced to Yosemite.

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