tl;dr version:
NAWACkies track animal that by process of elimination has to be a bigfoot because it 1) roamed over a 70 square mile area that is way bigger than any bear's, and 2) was active in early December and again in January when bears are dormant.
Assuming they aren't just lying or getting pranked, they have NOT ruled out black bear as having picked up their transmitter.
Black bears do not den in the Ouachitas until late December and they are easily roused in winter, especially during mild spells (such as the 50s–70s F experienced there in January 2016). Also, in a recent study in Florida, home range for male bears averaged 85 square miles.
Ignorant or disingenuous? You decide. Either way, there ain't no such thing as a wood ape.