Richard P. Smith
http://www.agpix.com/rpsmith
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Grizzly Bear Attack

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Montana Game Warden Lou Kis begins lifting trap door to release a relocated grizzly bear. First image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0003.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
Comments: Bear was fitted with a radio collar and ear tags in Kalispell before the long drive to the wilderness. The animal was live trapped after it was thought to have killed a cow on a local Indian reservation.
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Grizzly bear's head is visible in open door. Second image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0006.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
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Montana Game Warden Lou Kis appeared to have trouble lifting door of aluminum trap to release grizzly bear. Door may have been bent. One of the bear's legs is visible as it tries to force its way out of trap. Third image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0002.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
Comments: I started shooting with a fresh roll of film as soon as the trap door started to come up and I programed myself to continue holding shutter down to capture whatever action took place.
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Grizzly bear begins to emerge from aluminum trap in bed of pickup truck, with Game Warden Lou Kis holding door open. Fourth image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0001.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
Comments: This bear relocation occurred during June of 1987. I was photographing from the bed of another pickup truck about 50 yards away. Everyone expected the bear to run off as soon as it was released, but that's not what happened.
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Relocated grizzly bear jumps from the trap to the ground. Fifth image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0005.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
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Relocated grizzly bear hits the ground as Game Warden Lou Kis drops trap door and hollers \"Go\" to the truck driver. Sixth image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0004.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
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Upon hearing the warden's voice, the grizzly bear stands up on its hind legs to try to get at him. Seventh image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshal Wilderness, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0012.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
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The truck begins to move forward as the grizzly tries to grab the Game Warden Lou Kis' leg with its mouth. Eighth image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0007.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
Comments: The lower corner of this slide was damaged by a printer when it was being reproduced.
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Grizzly bear pulled the unsecured trap out of the truck with Game Warden Lou Kis and the warden fell on top of the bear. Ninth image in a sequence.
Location: Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana
Copyright: © Richard P. Smith
AGPix ID: AGPix_rpsmith402_0013.jpg
Photo Alignment: 35mm (vertical)
Comments: The warden had a camera around his neck when he fell. I think the bear bit the camera at this point. We later noticed the camera had teeth marks in it.