Bears Can Text

We've still never seen pigs fly, but this is the next best thing: Bears that text.

One Florida research project outfits black bears with GPS collars that send text messages every 15 minutes. The texts allow researchers to track black bear movements throughout the state -- vital information when it comes to conserving the species.

According to a story on CNN.com, researchers with the South-Central Florida Bear Project lure the bears into snares by tempting them with doughnuts, brownies with whipped cream and cherries and other goodies. (Who knew bears had such a penchant for pastries?). Once the bear grabs the goods, it gets trapped, allowing researchers to tranquilize the animal for about 90 minutes. During that time, scientists can take DNA samples, measure weight and other vital signs and collar the bear. So far, 55 bears throughout the state have been tagged.

Black bears are traditionally very mobile creatures -- in order to stay healthy and maintain genetic diversity, the populations need to migrate and mate with other populations, otherwise inbreeding occurs. But lately, as their habitat is reduced by development and land gets more fragmented by roads, bears haven't been moving as much.

Scientists hope that tracking the bears and learning more about their movements will allow them to protect land that's used most by the species. From CNN.com: "Researchers want to know whether the bears' travels have them crossing a road, an orange grove, or somewhere else in order to get from place to place. Collecting data on the corridors the bears need to travel in help in prioritizing what land should be sought for conservation purposes."

Now let's hope all those fatty, sugary treats don't add obesity and heart problems to the bears' woes.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.